An ex-husband and his lover attacked his former wife in front of their young son, a court was told, writes Sarah Brown.

James Grant, 48, of Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, and Glenys Missen, 39, deny causing actual bodily harm to Geraldine Grant in August last year.

Mrs Grant told a jury at Oxford Crown Court an argument started between her and her ex-husband over some shirts he left at her house in Kennington.

She said she followed him outside into the front garden and tried to get the shirts from him. Mrs Grant said: "He then punched me in the face. I think on my left side. It was enough to knock me back."

She said she then saw Glenys Missen beside her, as her husband knelt astride her, holding her down.

Mrs Grant told the jury: "She was to the left. She had my hand and she was pulling my fingers back. It caused me extreme pain. "She broke my finger."

The court heard she was left with cuts and bruises to her face, an injured shoulder and a broken finger.

James Grant said in evidence that his ex-wife had 'lured' him to the house and had then attacked him in a drunken rage.

He said: "I felt a blow to my forehead and then she struck me on the nose." He told the court his wife then grabbed hold of him and would not let go. Missen had gone to help him.

Missen told the jury she hit Mrs Grant in self defence.

The jury was expected to retire to consider its verdict today.

Story date: Wednesday 21 April

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