A student accused of killing a cricket captain with a fatal punch has told a jury that he would always avoid trouble and had never been in a fight.

Thomas Minshull, 20, pictured, said he had not seen Adrian Cooksey at all as he walked home from a night out with his friend.

Mr Cooksey, 50, died on March 8 after he was found lying on the pavement in Spa Road, Melksham, at about 2.50am.

The father of three, of Clipsham Rise, Trowbridge, suffered blunt trauma caused by impact with the ground after being felled by one punch to the left hand side of the jaw, which fractured the right side of his jaw.

Minshull, a second year forensic biology student at the University of Portsmouth, denies Mr Cooksey’s manslaughter.

He took the stand at Bristol Crown Court and told the jury that he always avoided confrontation and did not meet Mr Cooksey that night, let alone assault him.

“I did not see Mr Cooksey at all,” he said.

“I did not pick a fight with him. I have never had reason to pick a fight with anyone and I would never pick a fight. I do not like confrontation, I avoid it at all costs.”

He was arrested on March 14 after police viewed CCTV images showing he and his friend Jamie Bristow standing metres away from the victim moments before he was found dying by a member of the public.

The case continues.