A 19-year-old Colchester man accused of assaulting a homeless man has claimed he was acting in self defence when he hit him in the face.

Giving evidence during his trial at Ipswich Crown Court Kai Brazier said James Bryant had been verbally abusive towards him as he was walking along Colchester High Street with three friends.

Brazier said he asked Mr Bryant, who was sitting with another homeless man, what his problem was and described him as being aggressive and agitated.

“He then threw his hat on the ground and lunged towards me,” said Brazier.

He claimed Mr Bryant hit him on the collar bone causing him to go down on one knee.

He had protected his face with his hands before standing up and hitting Mr Bryant on the nose.

“I felt threatened. I wanted to deter him from coming towards me again,” said Brazier.

Brazier, 19, of Oakapple Close, Colchester, has denied inflicting grievous bodily harm in November 2016.

He denied thinking that people who beg on the street were “scum” and that he and his friends had called Mr Bryant “scum”.

The case continues on Monday.