A man accused of killing a 21-year-old man with a single blow to his head told a court he was acting in self-defence.

Ridwaan Shaikh is currently appearing at The Old Bailey charged with the murder of Bradley Creswell, from South Oxhey, after he was found with serious head injuries in the Parade, Watford, at around 3.44am on Sunday, September 18.

But the 22-year-old says his actions were out of character, as he was in a “happy, bubbly mood” until he started being “harassed” by Mr Cresswell during a night out at Hydeout nightclub, which is also in the Parade.

The court heard yesterday afternoon that the victim threw the first punch at Mr Shaikh in the smoking area outside the club with “no reason or explanation”.

Mr Shaikh, who cried as he spoke and was asked to speak up several times, said: “I was out that night to celebrate my friend Matthew Warren’s birthday and was intoxicated and in a happy mood.

“While we were in the smoking area, I was shoved hard in the back. I turned round and saw Mr Cresswell and when I asked if he was okay, he started shouting “watch yourself” at me.

“He then punched me in the face and I was knocked to the floor. I also felt a stamp on my leg but I am not sure who did that.”

Mr Shaikh says he got up from the floor quickly and moved back inside the club, where he stayed on the dancefloor with his friends until around 3am.

He briefly saw Mr Cresswell again while he was dancing, which made him feel “quite annoyed”, but his friends convinced him not to say anything.

After leaving Hydeout, Mr Shaikh started smoking a cigarette and saw Mr Cresswell once more along the Parade.

CCTV footage played in the court showed Mr Cresswell take off his jumper while stood alone.

Mr Shaikh says this made him feel “very uncomfortable” as he looked angry.

The victim then began to walk behind Mr Shaikh and starting shouting at him, which caused the defendant to react and deal the fatal blow.

He said: “I felt upset and just reacted. I had never done anything like that before and I regret it.

“I hit him once in the head, which made him fall to the floor but I didn’t touch him any more after that.

“I accept that I should not have hit him just because he shouted at me.”

The trial continues.