A man accused of cutting the brakes of his neighbour's car in a revenge attack has told a jury: "I'm innocent."

Mark Rowntree, 23, of Wood Farm Close, Leigh, denies slitting the brake pipe on a Fiat Panda belonging to Carol Waller and partner John Stevens.

He is charged with tampering with property with intent to endanger life.

A jury at Basildon Crown Court had already heard Rowntree cut the brakes after Mr Stevens beat him up.

Luckily, Mr Stevens managed to stop the car with its handbrake before any harm was done.

Answering questions from defence barrister Adam Budworth, Rowntree told the court he had stayed in on the evening of the alleged offence.

He said: "I sat indoors and watched the television before I went to bed."

Budworth asked: "Did you cut the break cable on that night?"

Rowntree: "No I didn't do it."

Budworth: "Have you damaged that car in any way since?"

Rowntree: "No."

One neighbour, Peter Bush, told the court earlier in the trial that he had seen Bush crouched under the car wielding a craft knife.

The trial continues.

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