A DRUG dealer stabbed a user to 'teach him a lesson' and tried to 'cover his tracks' a jury was told.

Attempted murder suspect Ethan Bell was called as a witness at Worcester Crown Court yesterday.

The 19-year-old stabbed drug user Keil Mansfield three times at a flat in George Street, Worcester on June 11. Mr Mansfield collapsed outside and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Bell of Himley Street, Dudley, who argues self-defence, said he refused to give Mr Mansfield more crack cocaine or lend him £20. But Mr Mansfield carried on 'begging' him and 'bugging' him before pulling out a 'Rambo knife' and saying 'give me all your money'.

The convicted drug dealer said: "I feared for my life and grabbed the knife with two hands to stop Keil Mansfield stabbing me."

Bell 'screamed for help' to Darren Dowie but Kerry Marnell, who hit Bell over the head with a pole, said 'no-one is here' and began to laugh. As the men fought over the knife it fell and both rushed to pick it up. Bell said: "I was thinking if I don't get the knife I'm dead."

He said his eyes were closed when he stabbed Mr Mansfield, opening them to see blood.

A knife with a 30cm blade was recovered from a room where Bell had been staying at the Premier Inn in New Road, Worcester on June 8, days before the stabbing. Eleven wraps of heroin and 13 wraps of cocaine were also found.

Bell claimed he had been trying to clear a drugs debt of £200. He had been told he and his mother would be killed if he did not deal drugs.

Hardeep Sandhu, prosecuting, said Bell had 'happily lied' in previous statements to police, calling him 'clever and cunning', returning to a room at the flat to collect money, cash and mobile phones after the stabbing and lying to the taxi driver who drove him back to Dudley.

"You were covering your tracks weren't you?" he said.

Mr Sandhu said Bell had not been under pressure to sell drugs. "You came to Worcester freely and you did so to sell drugs."

He told Bell: "You stabbed him to teach him a lesson, didn't you? Drug users don't mess with you, do they?"

The trial continues.