A homeless man told a court he thought he was going to die when a mental health patient allegedly slashed his face and throat in an alleyway.

Recovering alcoholic Owen Allen, 47, needed a lifesaving operation following a “frenzied” attack in Mill Platt Avenue, Isleworth.

Jodie Dobby, 23, of Clayponds Avenue, Brentford, is said to have repeatedly stabbed Mr Allan in the head, face and neck after they drank together on September 18 last year.

Ms Dobby, who was a voluntary patient at the Lakeside mental health unit, has pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but faces trial at Isleworth Crown Court where she denies attempted murder.

Sonny Dhillon, 20, of Pownall Gardens, Hounslow, is also on trial for attempted murder.

Mr Allen told the jury this week that a youth beckoned him over in Mill Platt Avenue before pushing him against a wall.

He said: “As I was trying to get to get up, that’s when it all went totally mad. I could see glimpses of maybe knives.

“I was sickened. I thought that was it. I was covered in blood, it was in my eyes.”

The emergency services found his lifeless body in the alleyway at about 9pm as firefighters put out a small blaze nearby, where his attackers were said to have tried to burn the evidence.

The court heard the homeless man met a group including Ms Dobby and Mr Dhillon in Silver Hall Park earlier in the day. He shared a drink with them before Mr Dhillon allegedly pushed him into a river.

He later met them again and asked for help to get dry in a nearby flat.

They left and the group launched the attack as they passed through the alleyway, the jury heard.

David Markham, prosecuting, said: “He suffered multiple stab wounds to his head, face and neck, as well as a fracture to the right side of his face.

“These two defendants were part of an attack which was so frenzied that it was nothing less than an attack on the victim’s life with an intention to kill him.”

Ms Dobby later told a health care assistant at the Lakeside unit she thought she had killed a man who had touched her inappropriately, the jury heard.

She handed the mental health worker a knife and showed him blood on her trainers, Mr Markham said.

Mr Dhillon told police in interview he punched Mr Allen in self defence and he did not know Ms Dobby had a knife.

The trial continues.