NIKITTA TRIAL: Accused tells court he took drugs on night out (From South Wales Argus)

NIKITTA TRIAL: Accused tells court he took drugs on night out

10:00am Thursday 16th February 2012 in Nikitta Grender trial By Ben Frampton - Crime reporter

WHANT told the jury about his night out in Newport with Mr Mayes and a group of friends as they made their way around pubs, drinking and taking cocaine.

He said he took cocaine six or seven times that night and the effects would last about 30 or 40 minutes. He added the group was also taking a legal high, M-cat.

When arrested by police, Whant had scratch-like injuries to his forearm and said he got these while in the Greyhound pub.

He told the jury an “arrogant Asian man” knocked into him and spilled his pint before swearing at him.

As he went to follow him, he said a woman grabbed his arm to stop him, which must have caused the injury.

Whant said his original plan for that night was to cook a curry for himself and partner Rachel Bird, but he got caught up with the group and ended up going out, which resulted with him at a house in Corelli Street.

Whant says he went to his nan’s house in the early hours of February 5 to try to get cigarettes for the group as they had run out. He said he didn’t go back to his girlfriend’s house as she would have given him “an earful.”