A 35-year-old man chased three people along a canal tow path with a machete before kidnapping an innocent teenager, a jury has been told.

Barrie Johnson grabbed the 17-year-old off the street and dragged him into a waiting car before trying to beat him up, the court heard. But the attack was cut short when police came across the incident.

In June this year Johnson was living in a caravan at the building site for a new bridge being built over the Kennet and Avon canal.

Mark Worsley, prosecuting, told the jury at Swindon Crown Court that three people were walking by when Johnson shouted at them, accusing them of throwing stones at machinery, and pursued them with the large knife. After a short chase the man the got a taxi into Semington, where he spotted a teenager pushing his bike.

"He ordered the taxi to stop, jumped out, grabbed the teenager and dragged him by the hood of his sweatshirt into the taxi, hitting him and shouting at him,"

Mr Worsley said. "The teenager had no idea what was going on as he hadn't seen this man before. He ordered the driver to stop and pulled the teenager out and kicked him on the floor."

Johnson, of Hampton Park West, Melksham, denies affray, kidnap and actual bodily harm.

The case continues.