An Essex fitness instructor accused of a late night attack which left an Ipswich man with a fractured skull has claimed he was acting in self defence.

Giving evidence during his trial at Ipswich Crown Court Lewis Jones said he feared he was going to be hit by Daniel Buck, and struck him first.

Jones told the court he heard someone shout: “Just hit him” and had felt “scared and intimidated” and had punched Mr Buck once.

He said he didn’t realise Mr Buck had fallen to the ground and hit his head and wasn’t aware he was seriously injured.

He claimed that shortly before the alleged attack Mr Buck had spat at the back of his head and had whispered in his ear: “You are not so brave when you are on your own.”

Jones, 27, of Park Road, Clacton-on-Sea has denied inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Buck on March 28 last year.

The court has heard that Mr Buck spent 10 days in hospital following the alleged assault and in addition to a fractured skull he also suffered partial hearing loss and bleeding on his brain.

Mr Buck told the court he had been in Vodka Revolution in Ipswich town centre with his partner and her brother and had tapped a woman in the shoulder and asked if she would like a date with his brother-in-law.

Jones had allegedly told Mr Buck that the woman was with him and Mr Buck told him he didn’t realise she was with anyone.

Mr Buck and Jones later saw each other in a nearby chip shop and Mr Buck claimed that Jones had suggested they went outside where the alleged attack took place.

Cross-examined by prosecution counsel, Simon Gladwell, prosecuting, Jones denied telling a “pack of lies”.

He denied that he was upset about what had happened in Vodka Revolution and wanted to “have it out” with Mr Buck.

He denied he was lying about hearing someone say: “Just hit him” immediately before he struck Mr Buck.

The court heard that Jones went to a police station a week after the alleged attack after the police issued a press release containing pictures of a suspect.

The trial continues.