A teenager was left with the blade of a knife in his back after being stabbed in an Ipswich street by a 17-year-old youth, it has been alleged.

Following the incident in Cemetery Road the alleged attacker ran off with the handle before throwing it on the ground, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Matthew Sorel-Cameron, prosecuting, said the alleged victim of the stabbing and one of his friends had gone to meet the 17-year-old on April 9 to discuss ill-feeling between them.

However, when they arrived they saw he was holding two knives and he then allegedly grabbed one of the youths by the collar and swung the knife at him, tearing his collar.

The youth pushed the 17-year-old out of the way before running away with his friend.

The 17-year-old allegedly chased after them and the one with the torn shirt managed to escape but his friend couldn’t get away and was stabbed in the chest.

“The blade of the knife was left in his body,” said Mr Sorel-Cameron.

The 17-year-old ran off with the handle and threw it on the ground and the injured youth was helped by local residents and some of his friends.

He later had three stitches in the wound in the area of his rib cage which was described by doctors as non-life threatening.

The 17-year-old told police the alleged stabbing victim and his friend had attacked him.

He claimed he had chased after them with a knife to scare them off and one of them had attacked him with a brick.

“The defence say that he was acting in self-defence,” said Mr Sorel-Cameron.

The defendant denies wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possessing a knife and assault by beating.

The defendant and the alleged victims cannot be named due to their ages.

The court heard that the defendant and alleged victims met while they were living in a hostel in Ipswich and had been friends.

However, the relationship between them had soured and the defendant had allegedly suggested meeting up with them on April 9 to discuss a reconciliation, said Mr Sorel-Cameron.

The trial continues.