A PSYCHOLOGY graduate claimed to have been attacked by rich investors just hours after trying to kill his friend in a frenzied knife attack at a luxury apartment, the Old Bailey heard.
Darren Scott, 26, became "possessed" as he pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed his pal as rap music blared in the background, it is said.
He allegedly plunged the six-inch kitchen knife into his victim's neck, then yelled "stand still I need to finish the job" as he tried to tear open the wounds with his bare hands.
Scott, formerly of Immingham, left his wealthy pal, who he had known for just two weeks, in a pool of blood in the en-suite bathroom, as he fled to Brough in Hull, the court heard.
But when he arrived that night, Scott said he had been the victim of an attack by two knife-wielding investors who had tried to stab him.
Nathan Greenfield, a friend of Scott's, said he agreed to let him stay at his flat when he heard the story.
"He said he wasn't himself and he looked absolutely terrible," he told the court.
"He had blood on the shirt he was wearing, on the collar bone area, and it was apparent that something was wrong."
He said Scott broke down crying as soon as he got into his car at Brough train station, and had a visible slash wound on his hand.
"He became very upset very quickly," said Mr Greenfield.
"He started to tell me about what had happened in his flat in London, the fact he had been attacked in his own home as he referred to it.
"Darren explained to me that he had recently moved into the flat in London, and that he worked as an investment consultant.
"He had potential investors round to the flat and they had admired the artwork he had on the walls. Darren had spent quite a lot of time with these potential investors and was sat next to one of them to get some contractual paperwork signed.
"He said one of them pulled a knife on him.
"He explained that he had a cut on his hand by putting his hand up to stop the knife from hitting him.
"He explained he thought he was going to die. He thought they were going to kill him, and he battled the knife off the person who had it."
Mr Greenfield said he later found blood-stained clothes in Scott's bag.
Scott is accused of stabbing his friend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, during a massage at his three-storey Mayfair apartment on July 3 last year.
It is said the victim suffered 21 injuries in the "frenzied" attack, and only survived by barricading himself into the bathroom until he could call for help.
He cannot be named for legal reasons.
They had only known each other for two weeks at the time of the attack, but Scott was already living in the luxury apartment.
Giving evidence last week, the man said he became worried Scott was a "psychopath" due to his erratic behaviour and wide-eyed stare, and had resolved to throw him out of the flat.
Mr Greenfield said he believed Scott was an investment consultant at Procter And Gamble, having seen it on his Facebook profile, and had socialised with him in Hull where he works as a sales manager.
He said he received messages from Scott in the afternoon on July 3, firstly saying: "Fancy a lodger?!" and then telling him: "I've been attacked in my own flat. I'm in bits."
Scott caught a train from London to Brough that evening, arriving just before 11pm and staying the night at Mr Greenfield's home.
He was arrested the following day while socialising at a jazz club in the area.
The jury has heard Scott had with him a bogus job offer from Procter And Gamble, a fake £420,000 compensation court order, and forged bank statements.
Prosecutor John Clifford said detectives found Scott had been pretending the flat in Mayfair was his, paid for by his new employers, and had been on spending sprees with the victim's bank card.
"It was during this time that Mr Scott was in effect ingratiating himself to (his victim), and indeed was not only using his bank cards but was taking pictures of the flat, a well-appointed flat on three floors in Mayfair, sending it to his friends, and in effect saying look at my new place, look at how well I've done for myself," he said.
"That's only the tip of the iceberg with regards to the deception carried out by Mr Scott."
Scott has admitted spending £1,700 at House Of Fraser on the victim's bank card in late June, but denies a similar fraud to buy a £280.50 first class train ticket to Hull to see his parents.
Scott, of no fixed address, denies attempted murder, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, fraud and possession of an article for use in fraud.
He has admitted a second count of fraud.
The trial continues.
