A PROSECUTION witness wrote to a defendant while he was in prison awaiting trial on a knife slash charge, a jury heard.

Sarah Goddard told Paul Maddison she would cancel her statement against him and "write out a proper one" in a letter she wrote three days after an incident outside her home, York Crown Court heard.

"It all depends on what you want," she wrote. "You know I will do it."

The jury heard that the pair had had a sexual relationship that finished on Christmas Eve, and started again about a week later.

Maddison told police the relationship was going fine until January 18, when Ms Goddard was "acting a bit strangely."

Maddison, 40, of Bramham Road, Chapelfields, denies wounding David Ward with intent on January 19.

The prosecution alleges Maddison smashed the windows of a car outside the house and knifed Mr Ward in the face.

During her second day in the witness box, Ms Goddard agreed that she had written to Maddison on January 22.

She wrote: "That piece of stick which Ward got, CID got that stick. It was in my hallway so at least you know they know he hit you with it."

She also wrote: "If you want, I will cancel my statement, if you tell me where to go. If you want me to, I'll write out a proper one so you can show your barrister. It all depends what you want. You know I will do it."

Mr Ward denies picking up a stick until after he was knifed and denies hitting Maddison with it.

Mr Ward's girlfriend Samantha Thompson claimed in evidence she took £100 of Maddison's money at Ms Goddard's request for Maddison's rent.

Ms Goddard gave different accounts of how much money was taken.

She claimed Ms Thompson, her sister, wanted the money as payment for a car.

The jury heard evidence that Maddison was very angry about the missing money.

The trial continues.

Updated: 12:20 Wednesday, July 25, 2001