A man tried to stab his neighbour to death through a car window after the victim returned from holiday to find his attacker’s car parked in the driveway of his New Malden home, a court has heard.

Lee Francis, 38, was said to have sparked a row when Darpo Clarke returned to his home, in Lincoln Road in New Malden, from a holiday to find his neighbour’s car parked in his driveway on April 18 last year.

The two neighbours fought outside Mr Francis’ home before he went inside to get a knife and stabbed Mr Clarke “repeatedly” through the window of his black Mercedes, a trial at Kingston Crown Court heard today.

Francis is charged with attempted murder.

The court heard how Francis and his partner Jill Webber took the luxury of using Mr Clarke’s driveway without permission while he and his partner Melanie Sharp were on holiday in Greece.

Prosecuting lawyer Peter Glenser said: “In spring of last year Lee Francis, the defendant in this case, was living very near a man called Darpo Clarke.

“They were on normal neighbourly terms. There houses were similar, similar but not identical. Darpo Clarke’s house had the benefit of a driveway he could park his car, Lee Francis’ did not.

“While they were away on holiday they left their car at the airport as so many of us do.

“No arrangement had been made that allowed Lee Francis or Julie Webber to do so, but doubtless they thought it convenient to put their car there while their neighbours were away.”

The court heard that Ms Sharp sounded the horn on their return to alert their neighbours to the fact that they were home, but nobody came out to move the car.

Mr Clarke then went to the front door, where a “scuffle” broke out between the pair.

One witness said how they heard Francis shout “who do you think you are you little c**t”, while he held him by the throat and hit him.

CCTV footage was shown to the court of the two neighbours fighting outside Mr Francis’ house before Mr Clarke retreated to his car.

Francis then went back into his house and grabbed a knife, before going to the passenger side of the car and stabbing Mr Clarke four times through the window.

He has admitted causing grievous bodily harm, but has denied that he tried to kill Mr Clarke.

His victim was rushed to hospital having suffered stab wounds to his arm, chest, abdomen and spline and to this day still has an open wound in his stomach, the court heard.

Mr Glenser added: “The next thing that Darpo Clarke was aware of was Lee Francis standing by the open window of his car by the passenger seat.

“The injuries suffered by Darpo Clarke were extremely serious. He is - you may think - lucky to be alive.

“What else can he possibly intend to do when he armed himself with that knife and behaved as he did?”

Neighbours of the tight cul-de-sac came out into the street after hearing the commotion unfold, with one saying they heard Francis say he simply “saw red” after his victim had “beat him up” outside his home.

Mr Gensler told the court that Francis claimed to have no memory of the attack when interviewed by police shortly afterwards.

Defending lawyer Kerim Faud told the jury: “Our experience and your experience is that things are rarely as they are first seen.

“There is no doubt that he is a victim, he is a victim to the wounds inflicted by the man you are trying.

“How it came to happen is a matter for Mr Clarke now he is better, now he has had time to think, to tell you the truth about.

“When you stand back and look at the initial incident at the door that upset came to Mr Francis and there was some ‘argy bargy’ there.”

The trial continues.