An Ipswich charity worker accused of stabbing a colleague in the stomach during a dispute over some missing money has claimed the victim ran on to the knife.

Uldis Bokarts told a jury at Ipswich Crown Court that Ivo Namnieks had threatened and pushed him during a discussion about the missing money in Mr Namnieks’ bedroom at the house they shared in Ringham Road, Ipswich.

Bokarts said he had fallen backwards after Mr Namnieks pushed him and he had taken a knife he used for preparing food out of his pocket because he thought it might cut him if he fell on it during the argument.

He claimed that Mr Namnieks had then run on to the knife. “He quickly ran at me and the knife somehow unexpectedly got into him,” said Bokarts.

Bokarts, 37, of Ringham Road, Ipswich has denied wounding Mr Namnieks with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm on May 24.

The court has heard that Mr Namnieks suffered a single stab wound to the upper part of his stomach and was kept in hospital overnight for treatment.

Mr Namnieks told the court he and Bokarts both worked for the Clothes Aid charity. He said shortly before the alleged stabbing he asked his employer to transfer some money into Bokarts’ bank account as he didn’t have his own account.

Mr Namnieks asked Bokarts to withdraw the money from his account and leave it on a table in the living room but had later discovered it was missing.

Mr Namnieks said he suspected Bokarts of taking the money and had confronted him about it.

The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict today.