ALLEGATIONS that a Stroud man had been gossiping and spreading rumours about a local couple led to him being attacked and beaten up while drinking at a friend’s home, a court was told today, Tuesday

Harry Jones, who was the subject of the alleged gossip, assaulted Mark Clarke causing facial injuries that needed sixteen stitches, it was claimed at Gloucester Crown Court.

Mr Jones, 44, of London Road, Stroud, denies assaulting Mr Clarke causing him actual bodily harm at Nigel Tann’s flat in Clarendon Court, Stroud, on July 12, 2012.

He claimed he was acting in self defence.

Mr Tann went out to the off licence and returned about 20 minutes later with Mr Jones and Zelma De Geoede.

Prosecutor George Threlfall said: “There were a number of unresolved issues between Mr Clarke, Mr Jones and Ms De Geoede relating to text messages and rumours.

“They all sat down in the living room and were drinking cans of lager. However, at some stage the conversation came back round to the problems there had been between them.

“The defendant got out of his chair, went over to Mr Clarke and repeatedly punched him about his head, face and body with his fists."

“Mr Clarke was taken to hospital - he had multiple abrasions around both eyes and his left cheek.

“He had a 1.5cm cut above the left eye and another laceration of half a centimetre on the right eyebrow.

“He also had a haemorrhage in the left eye. He was tender on the right cheek and left side of the jaw, there were swellings over the right side of his forehead and right forearm and on the side of his left ankle."

Mr Threlfall said Jones was arrested nearby and police could see he had fresh cuts on both hands and knuckles.

In evidence Mr Clarke confirmed Mr Threlfall’s account of what happened and said he’d had to have eight stitches over each eye.

“My eyes were so badly swollen I could not see out of them - and I was literally covered in blood,” he said.

The trial continues.