A BOY who stabbed a man claimed he was acting in self defence in an attempt to break free, a court heard.

The 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of stabbing a man in the neck and stomach during a knife attack in Barnfield Way, Southampton.

The teen told Southampton Crown Court he denies attempting to murder Neil Mason who he says held him at arm’s length and squeezed him around the neck.

He said how he “was struggling to breathe” during the "fight" on October 27 last year.

The boy said he grabbed a knife from his waistband and then stabbed the 56-year-old in the abdominal area.

However, still unable to get away he “then stabbed him in the neck” to get him to release his grip.

At which point the boy says Mr Mason - who he alleges also punched him three or four times - fell to the ground and he ran away.

He had originally gone to Barnfield Road with a friend who he says wanted to beat up another teen because of a social media argument over a girl.

He claims he had gone with his friend as “back up” and despite his mother’s insistence not to leave the house that night.

Along the way, the two had picked up rocks to “smash” the windows of their intended victim.

They launched the rocks at Mr Mason’s home and who they believed was the boy’s grandfather.

Earlier in the trial, Mr Mason told how he had tried to reason with the “youngish boy” and insisted “you’ve got the wrong guy”.

But shortly before launching the attack, the court was told that the 14-year old said: “I’ve got a nice big shank for you.”

Mr Mason previously told how he thought he was going to die and that one of his arteries had been cut.

Prosecutor Rose Burns had argued that the defendant and a 14-year-old friend had walked into Barnfield Road with the intention of stabbing a 15-year-old boy.

In CCTV footage played to the jury, Ms Burns said the defendant could be heard shouting at Mr Mason: “I’m going to shank your grandson.

“I’m going to cut his face off. Big zombie [knife] right in your chest.

“I’m going to shank you. I’ve got a nice big shank for you.”

When questioned by defence barrister, Gemma White the boy denied making any reference to zombie knives or threatening to “shank” Mr Mason. He told the court on Thursday that he had been carrying a kitchen knife.