Married postal worker Philip Sudol came down to Bristol from Leeds for a romantic liaison, only to watch the woman he had come to see arrested for trying to murder her husband, a court heard.

Mr Sudol told Bristol Crown Court he struck up a relationship with Joanne Hale over the internet and, in December last year, they arranged to meet and she picked him up from Bristol Parkway.

He told the court that, having been in Bristol less than an hour, they drew up at Hale's home in Hawksmoor Lane, Stapleton, only to find "coppers everywhere" and his lady friend slapped in handcuffs.

Hale, 39, denies attempting to murder her husband Peter, as well as wounding him with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, in December last year.

It is alleged that – after giving him sex drug "horny goat weed" and frolicking with him in Stoke Park – she inflicted a 12cm long slash to his throat before stabbing him further, including an almost fatal wound to his chest which caused lung collapse, cardiac arrest and heart damage.

It is claimed she then left him with passerby Timothy Walker, without saying she knew him or what happened, before driving to Bristol Parkway and meeting Mr Sudol in person for the first time.

Mr Sudol told the court his hobby was collecting militaria and he first encountered Joanne Hale via eBay, buying pins for badges from her.

He said the emails they sent to each other became lighter and "more jokey", involving them exchanging jokes and pictures.

He told the jury: "A little later the emails became flirtatious. I believed her to be a nurse."

Mr Sudol recalled how they "got on like a house on fire" as they shared similar interests and a sense of humour. He said that, at the time, he and his wife weren't getting on and he was having problems at work.

He said that, having told that to Hale, she told him she was living by herself and separated from her husband.

The court heard it was on Saturday, December 27 last year when Mr Sudol got the train to Bristol thinking he would have sex with Hale.

"It was the first time I had met her," he said. "I had seen pictures of her before and I recognised her. I gave her a hug and we seemed happy to see each other."

Mr Sudol said Hale apologised for being late and told him she had met her husband, he had been drinking and he nicked his throat with a knife.

He said she was concerned, but not hysterical, but he was anxious because he wasn't sure if Mr Hale would be still around and armed.

The jury heard that, when they drew up at Hale's home, police were waiting and when he asked Hale what she had done, she replied: "I haven't done anything, it was him."

He described how both Hale and himself were arrested, and he had no idea what had happened. Andrew Langdon QC, defending, told Mr Sudol: "To put it mildly, things didn't turn out how you expected."

The case continues at Bristol Crown Court.