A LEYTON Orient community football coach accused of attacking a mother and her son was acting in self-defence, a court heard.

Yacine Rabia, 25, of James Lane, Leyton, denies breaking the arm of Anne Marie Shinkwin and smashed the nose of Daryl Reilly during a confrontation at noon on Thursday March 18.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard how the incident stemmed from a row between the defendant’s fiancee, Elizabeth Elsie, 24, and her mother, Emma Livings.

There were a number of heated text message exchanges between the pair over care arrangements for Ms Livings’ two other daughters, aged 12 and 13.

Ms Livings’ friend Anne Marie Shinkwin became involved and sent Ms Elsie a number of ‘upsetting’ messages, she claimed.

Rabia told the court he then arranged to travel to Ms Shinkwin’s home in Dagenham in an attempt to calm the situation.

But he said Ms Shinkwin immediately began shouting at him and pushed him.

He then claimed Mr O’Reilly attacked him, before running into the house and returning with a 15 inch knife.

The court heard that Mr O’Reilly chased Rabia, but he managed to get in to his car and drive off.

However, cross examining Rabia on Monday (January 10), John Carmichael, prosecuting, challenged his version of events.

He said: "I suggest you threatened Anne Marie, you threatened to 'sort her out', you broke her arm and you broke the nose of her son. Then in your rage you said you'd 'done' them."

Rabia responded: “No I didn't. I got assaulted and because I didn't go to the police first I'm the one standing there [the dock]."

He added that he did not know how Ms Shinkwin had broken her arm, but said he suspected her injuries had been caused by her fainting during the brief “tangle”

Rabia denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent and causing actual bodily harm.

The trial continues.

Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter