A man has appeared in court accused of slashing a teenage girl in the face with a knife in Greenhead Park.

Brendan Ball, of Carlton Street in Fartown, was before Kirklees Magistrates’ Court.

The court was told that the attack happened in the park last Thursday (April 7) evening.

Ball allegedly engaged in a conversation with the 19-year-old girl before attacking her. The court heard he lashed out at her face with a knife four or five times.

The girl received a slash wound during the alleged attack before Ball made off from the scene.

Ball, originally from America, faces a charge of unlawfully and malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

READ MORE:Teenage woman hit in face by man in Greenhead Park

He also has two charges against him of possession of a bladed article.

One of these charges relates to a knife allegedly found by police in his pocket as he headed to a shop five days later.

Ball, 30, entered no pleas to the charges.

District Judge Michael Fanning sent his case to Leeds Crown Court.

Ball will first appear there on May 12 and was remanded in custody.