A WATER polo player fought back tears as he told a jury he did not attack a rival player and was not a violent man.

Christopher Brooks, 37, who has played the sport for 25 years and is a member of the Radcliffe team, claimed he was struck hard on the head by alleged victim, Burnley player John Williamson.

He alleges self defence and has told police he must have caught Mr Williamson with his thumb.

Brooks, who works in office removals, is said to have "whacked," Mr Williamson deliberately in the face.

The alleged offence is said to have taken place in the last three minutes, after the referee took the ball from Radcliffe and gave it to the home team in a Northern County League game, at Gannow Baths, Burnley, on November 20, last year.

Mr Williamson suffered serious injury, was at first thought to have been half-blinded and was in hospital for a week.

The defendant, of Camden Close, Ainsworth, near Bury, denies inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Giving evidence Brooks, described himself as a family man.

His barrister John Maxwell asked him: "It's said you strode across the swimming pool and deliberately punched a man in the face. Is this true? " The defendant replied:" No it's not true."

Brooks told the jury he was marking the Burnley player to make sure he didn't get the ball and as he turned to go back towards the Radcliffe goal, he felt a very sharp blow on the top of his head. He had never had a knock like that before.

He continued: "The ball was nowhere near and it was very sharp, not like a normal challenge in any way.

"I thought it was a punch, an elbow, something deliberate."

The defendant went on: "Everything went black.

"My head was pushed down and I was very frightened.

"I didn't know if I was going to be hit again.

"My natural reaction was to fend off and try and swing round to where the blow came from.

"I swung round with my left arm towards where the blow came from."

Brooks claimed he was very dazed, was complaining he had been assaulted and thought the referee had seen everything.

He never heard a whistle and a Burnley player told him he had been sent out.

He said he was not a violent man by nature.

"He had got out of the pool and when the game was finished he went down to the cubicles because he was concerned for Mr Williamson's injury.

Brooks added: "I went down with the club captain and apologised and said it was a natural reaction to being assaulted."

The jury was due to retire today.

(Proceeding)