A MYSTERY man was behind a 'brutal' celebrity hit list which included an Oxford bookseller fatally stabbed in his home, his alleged murderer has revealed.

Michael Danaher took the stand at Oxford Crown Court today, blaming an unnamed man for concocting the list of targets prosecutors allege he drew up.

Swearing on the Bible before giving his evidence, he refused to reveal the identity of the man he claims also ordered an inmate to threaten him while in custody.

Prosecutors allege Oxford man Adrian Greenwood appeared on the list of high-profile people Danaher was plotting to rob, kidnap or blackmail.

The 50-year-old defendant denies murdering Christ Church graduate Mr Greenwood but claims he killed the 42-year-old in self-defence on April 6.

Wearing a grey tracksuit top and bottoms, Danaher told the court he recalled meeting 'nice guy' Mr Greenwood at an auction in Henley-on-Thames last year.

The pair had a friendly 20-minute conversation before parting ways, arranging to meet up if they were both in Oxford, Danaher said.

Danaher claimed he wanted to 'learn' from Mr Greenwood, confirming he scoured the internet for information about him and items he was selling after their meeting.

The father also explained to jurors he turned to buying and selling items discovered in storage lockers after a failed suicide attempt, when he took more than 50 paracetamol tablets but woke the next day with a 'really bad headache'.

The anonymous man created an Excel spreadsheet of targets featuring model Kate Moss, politician Jeffrey Archer, property developer Howard Grossman, financial investor Guy Hands and venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft of Wonga, Danaher later claimed.

The diabetic was adamant he never searched for addresses of the rich and famous on his Samsung laptop, accusing the 'large' mystery man for using it to plot the potential hit list.

Danaher, of Hadrians Court, Peterborough, said he only uncovered the 'Enterprises' list after spotting the document on his laptop when the nameless man popped to the toilet.

He snapped a picture of it on his mobile to examine 'safely' while alone but later confronted the mystery man, who became 'abusive' and threatened him.

Defence barrister Amjad Malik QC quizzed Danaher about the list, asking: "What did you think [the] unknown man was up to?"

The defendant, who revealed he was £13,000 in debt earlier this year, replied: "It just looked like he was up to no good."

Danaher claimed the 'unknown' man made him feel 'unsafe' in his home, regularly turning up on his doorstep to use his laptop and car.

He told jurors he bought a £33 stun gun disguised as an iPhone for protection from the nameless man, who he met at a pub quiz in Peterborough last year.

Standing throughout his time giving evidence, Danaher revealed he kept the weapon in his sock draw or on top of his cupboard, adding: "I didn't think I would be able to fight him off."

During the trial, the jury of eight men and four women was told police discovered an 'Enterprises' file on Danaher's laptop after his arrest.

Presenter Eamonn Holmes, chat show host Michael Parkinson, ex-footballer Rio Ferdinand, entrepreneur Lord Alan Sugar and music mogul Simon Cowell all featured, officer in the case Det Sgt Richard Earl confirmed.

Prosecutor Oliver Saxby QC said the alleged murder was sparked by Danaher's interest in Mr Greenwood's rare first edition of The Wind in the Willows, worth about £50,000.

Mr Greenwood sustained more than 40 injuries to his head, chest, neck, back and limbs, including 16 stab wounds, as well as more than 20 areas of bruising, grazing or scratches, a pathologist told the court.

Prosecutors allege Danaher caused the injuries using a blade discovered in his home, which had snapped off from a knife handle uncovered in Mr Greenwood’s Iffley Road home.

Danaher pinched the rare book, along with Mr Greenwood’s mobile, wallet, laptop, camcorder and Nikon camera, Mr Saxby said.

The trial continues.