A FATHER accused of blackmailing his school friend before beating him in a car claimed the cash was used to clear a drugs debt, a court has heard.

Ryan Roberts told a jury of six men and six women he never forced Thomas Chambers to hand over thousands of his savings or threaten to slit his throat if he refused.

Taking to the stand at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, the 27-year-old claimed the pair owed a drug dealer money and had a ‘minor’ argument on the day he allegedly attacked his friend.

Roberts revealed he asked Mr Chambers for cash to repay the drug dealer and did not attack him when he claimed he was out of money.

The defendant denied punching Mr Chambers in his car after he allegedly returned from the bank empty-handed, adding: “I would never dream of doing something like that.

“I lost my brother in a car crash four years ago. I would never do nothing like that to put myself in danger.”

During the trial, Mr Chambers told the court the defendant would pester him for money during phone calls, complaining he owed others cash.

He said on one occasion he was forced to go to the bank but it was closed, and was attacked by Roberts when he returned without the cash.

Roberts, of St Annes Court, Didcot, denies blackmail between January 1 and December 13, 2015, and assault by beating on December 12 last year.

The trial continues.