Andrew Pearson, 31, appeared in custody in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he pleaded not guilty to intentionally causing serious injury and other charges for the stabbing of 18-year-old Kieran Thomas on July 13.

Mr Thomas, of Clunes, gave evidence to the court and described the moment Pearson allegedly stabbed him with a kitchen knife.

The court heard Mr Thomas earlier arranged the sale of a vehicle to Pearson on Facebook on July 12, but was instead allegedly robbed of his car, cash and mobile phone.

Mr Thomas told the court he found out Pearson’s address and decided to try to retrieve his belongings. He said he caught the next available bus from Ballarat to Maryborough, arriving shortly before midnight, and went to Pearson’s house on Sutton Road.

After banging on the door and windows for five minutes – which caused one window to smash – Pearson opened the door and allegedly hit him in the head with a hammer.

“It was hard enough to drop me to the ground,” Mr Thomas told the court.

“He dropped the hammer and kicked me in the face, I was on the ground basically unconscious. I got to my feet and he stabbed me.

“He stabbed me first in the chest, then grabbed me and stabbed me again.”

The attack continued, with Pearson allegedly stabbing Mr Thomas to the thigh and back. A physician’s report showed Mr Thomas sustained three wounds to the chest, two to the right thigh and one to his upper back, along with a laceration to the head.

Mr Thomas told the court the stab wound to his back occurred while he was trying to crawl away from Pearson’s house.

He eventually made it to a nearby McDonald’s where an ambulance was called.

Police raided Pearson’s house and found him hiding under a bed.

Detective Sergeant Roland Kurzke said Pearson had “white powder” around his mouth when he was arrested, and had consumed “possibly 15 tablets” of medication.

Detective Sergeant Kurzke admitted to striking Pearson to the face with an open hand in an attempt to make him spit out the tablets.

Pearson was remanded in custody to appear at a directions hearing in the Bendigo County Court on February 21, when a trial date will be set.