A LEADING martial arts expert said to have attacked the wrong man by mistake in a restaurant brawl told a jury he did not intend to hit or hurt anybody.

Registered osteopath Martin Dixon, 50, whose alleged victim was his former patient Terence Robinson, suffered a dislocated shoulder in the fracas at Checcos pizzeria in Great Harwood.

He claimed he had feared for his life and had been incapable of attacking anybody.

Dixon, chairman of the national governing body for Ju Jitsu in this country and national coach, tutor and trainer with the National Federation for Personal Safety and Protection, was giving evidence on the second day of his trial at Burnley Crown Court.

The father and stepfather of two, of Delph Mount, Great Harwood, denies assault causing actual bodily harm, last October. He has no previous convictions. The jury has heard claims Dixon meant to hit an "unknown male," whose actions had started the trouble, with a bar stool, but struck Mr Robinson instead, causing him to suffer a cut head.

The defendant, who had gone out for a meal with his wife for dinner and met up with another couple, said he had had almost two pints of beer and a glass of wine at the Whalley Road restaurant.

As they ate, he noticed a man asleep at a nearby table, almost "with his head in his dinner."

The woman with the man started rummaging through her handbag and Dixon recalled he jokingly said to her that was the time to get the man's money when he was asleep.

A couple of minutes later the woman asked him if he was joking, as the man's wallet had gone. She woke him up and the man, who was obviously drunk, went up to Dixon, waving his arms around, swearing, and shouting ;"All right

mate, where's my wallet?"

The man's partner then said she had found the wallet and the defendant said he asked the man for an apology, which was not the right thing to do at all.

Dixon said the man lunged at him and tried to hit him, so he got part-way off his stool and pushed him away with the back of his foot to try toget rid of him.

The man then grabbed his arm and shirt and both hit the floor.

Dixon said the next thing he remembered was feeling tremendous pain in his left shoulder and he also banged his head, was disorientated and concussed.

He said he thought he had broken his arm or shoulder, and it was later found to be dislocated.

Dixon told the court he tried to crawl away as the last thing he wanted was any further confrontation

He said he pulled himself up, heard the man shout ;"I am going to kill him." and was trying to protect himself and his damaged arm, by now "just hanging there," from any further injury.

Dixon picked up the bar stool to use as a shield to put something between himself and his "oncoming assailant," but was aware only of the intense pain in his shoulder.

Dixon said he did not know what happened to the stool, but it was now "patently clear," it had collided with Mr Robinson's head.

He had no idea he was there and had not intended to hit him or hurt him.

Asked by his counsel if he had intended to strike or injure anybody, the defendant said he had been incapable of attacking anybody and had just wanted to retreat.

(Proceeding)