A BUILDING company boss accused of stamping on a man’s head during a pub fight has told a court he was trying to shake the man’s hands off his legs.

David Hopkins, of Poplar Farm Close, Milton-under-Wychwood said he was trying to get to his feet after being punched to the ground by Mark Maisey.

The father-of-two denies grievous bodily harm with intent against Mr Maisey in the Red Lion pub in Witney in the early hours of Sunday, April 27, last year.

Giving evidence at Oxford Crown Court yesterday Hopkins, a director of Hopkins Construction (Oxford) Ltd, said Mr Maisey had previously threatened him, apparently because of a scuffle Hopkins had had with a mutual friend some time before.

He told the court he would normally try to avoid Mr Maisey because he knew he was a good boxer, had a reputation for being violent and he was afraid of him.

But on the night of the fight last April, Hopkins said Mr Maisey suddenly appeared next to him in the packed pub without him realising.

The 40-year-old said: “He pulled me round and started to have a go at me. He is telling me he is going to f***ing kill me.”

Hopkins continued: The next thing I knew, I felt a punch to my jaw. As I remember, I went half way back and then just reached out to steady myself. I think I grabbed his head. I remember us falling and crashing to the floor and our heads clashed together. ”

He added: “I thought it was his hands around my leg. I kicked to shake his hands off to get up.” Asked by defence barrister David Hislop if he intended causing Mr Maisey serious harm that night, he replied: “No, not at all.” The trial continues.