A man claimed he was ambushed after an argument over Covid restrictions.

Arash Shakouri, 39, stated he and brother Afshin were attacked by seven men close to his flat in Glasgow’s Townhead on June 15, 2020.

Arash told a jury that he had earlier argued with one of the men - Khalid Wali, 27, - inside a lift.

Arash claimed Wali wanted to enter the lift when restrictions limited entry to one household.

The witness stated Wali did not want to adhere to the rules and threatened him during the row.

Arash said that he thought he was "going to die" after Wali and others allegedly attacked him outside the building.

Wali, of Maryhill, denies assaulting Arash with others to his severe injury and assaulting Afshin to his severe injury and permanent impairment at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Arash told the court that he planned to meet Afshin outside that day and took the lift alone.

It is then he stated that Wali tried to get in a few floors down.

Prosecutor Carrie Stevens asked if Arash said anything to Wali.

He said: "Of course, because of Covid restrictions we were asked by the concierge that only one household can use the lift at the time.

"You wait on the other lift - at the time there were three other working lifts - or wait on the next one."

Arash stated that Wali "did not accept" what he was saying and wanted to "come in by force" and "pushed me."

CCTV was played to the court which showed the pair arguing and Arash pushing Wali - which the witness accepted.

Wali was seen to come back into the lift and press buttons and stand on the doorway to hold it open.

Arash said: "I was wearing a facemask and everyone was panicked because of covid and everyone was scared.

"I was scared that he was coming so close to me."

The witness claimed that he heard Wali mention him during a phone call in Arabic during the incident.

He added that Wali said he would "show me who's boss."

Arash stated that he eventually made it out the building alone to meet his brother.

The witness claimed that they were then chased by approximately seven men, including Wali.

He said: "One of them grabbed my shirt and my brother tried to stop it as he was saying 'stop it, calm down'.

"The other person came and punched my face.

"That guy grabbed my hair from the back...all of them started to hit me and my brother.

"I fell to the ground and they started to hit me again and again."

Arash claimed he was hit to the face, stomach and chest when on the ground.

He added: "I couldn't breathe anymore, it's like when you are sinking in water and can't breathe, it was that feeling.

"I was feeling like I was dying as I could not breathe at all."

The witness stated that officers attended the scene and he was taken to hospital.

He stated that he suffered two fractured fingers which he cannot bend completely to this day.

The trial continues tomorrow before Sheriff Gerard Considine.