AN UNCLE stabbed his nephew after threatening him over the way he treated his ex-girlfriend, a court heard.

Stephen Cochran, of Wilbury Gardens, Hove, believed the 32-year-old was not treating her "how a man should be treating a woman", jurors were told.

He stabbed Melvin Cochran at home in the early hours of April 13, Lewes Crown Court heard.

The 41-year-old denies attempted murder and wounding with intent, claiming self defence. He said his nephew attacked him and he mistook him for an intruder.

Prosecuting on the first day of the defendant’s trial, Nicholas Hall said Mr Cochran had been drinking on the night of the attack with his nephew’s ex-girlfriend, Tracey Doherty, and another friend, Sophie Pengilly, when the conversation turned to Melvin.

Mr Hall added: “It seems to be the case that that Stephen and Melvin were always arguing with each other and the source seems to be Tracey.

“She had been in a relationship with Melvin and it seems to be the case from what these people are saying that Melvin had dumped her. "

He added: It seemed to be the case that Stephen thought that Melvin was not treating Tracey properly; was not treating her in the relationship as a man should be treating a woman.

“These women heard him say in the flat that evening that he was going to stab Melvin because of the way he had been treating Tracey.”

During the evening, Mr Cochran had a phone call from Melvin to check he could stay at his flat, jurors heard.

Mr Cochran phoned police in the early hours of April 13 on 999 to say he had stabbed his nephew, the court heard.

Mr Hall continued: “Stephen went on to say that his nephew had broken into his flat and as a consequence he had stabbed him.”

Police attended and found Melvin on the sofa in a “very bad way" with a “very serious” single stab wound on the right side of his body, Mr Hall said.

Mr Cochran told police he had come home to be attacked inside his flat from behind, grabbing hold of a knife before realising too late it was Melvin.

Stephen Cochran denies attempted murder and wounding with intent.

The trial continues.