A MAN accused of attacking a dog-sitter following a row at a party claims another man carried out the assault.

Peter Stokes told a jury at Bolton Crown Court yesterday that he had stood at the top of the stairs outside a friend’s flat in Ullswater Drive, Farnworth, on June 27, while fellow partygoer Daniel Herring went to the flat downstairs and attacked John Caloe.

Herring had previously told the court it was Stokes who went down to the flat to confront Mr Caloe. He claimed it was Stokes who hit the victim over the head with a cup.

The prosecution allege both Herring, aged 28, of Ullswater Drive, Highfield, and Stokes, aged 20, of Raikes Way, Darcy Lever, attacked Mr Caloe, stabbing him and slashing him with a kitchen knife.

Both men deny the charges.

Stokes told the court that he had been angry when Caloe, who had fallen asleep at the party, hit the hostess, Kirsty Wood, in the chest as they tried to make him leave the flat. Mr Caloe went downstairs to the flat where he was looking after a friend’s dog, but Stokes said Herring went after him, trying to get into the neighbour’s flat and then, after drinking some more, went back after telling the others: “John needs beating. He needs sorting out for what he’s done.”

Stokes, who has no criminal convictions, said he was angry when police arrested him as well as Herring.

The trial continues.