A teenager today told a court he “did not lay a finger” on an Oxford University student found semi-conscious on a cycle path.

Thomas Mack took the stand at Oxford Crown Court to deny attacking St Edmund Hall student Kentaro Ikeda on the path in University Parks, Oxford.

He said he had been celebrating his 18th birthday in The Bridge nightclub, in Oxford city centre, the evening before the attack on July 31 last year.

Mack said he and his friend Craig Knowles were sitting on the cycle path waiting for two other friends to walk home with when Mr Ikeda cycled past at about 1.45am.

He said: “As he was riding past his straps were dangling down, they were attached to his bag.

“I just literally held my arm out and grabbed it. I do not know why. I just thought it would slow him down. It was drunken stupidity. I thought I would slow him down for a laugh.”

Mack, of Nicholas Avenue, Marston, said the bag came off Mr Ikeda’s bike and he passed it to Knowles who pulled out a padlock from it.

He said: “He threw it at Kentaro. I did not expect him to do that. It hit him on the forehead. He dropped instantly. I believe he was unconscious.

“As soon as the padlock hit him it seemed he had been knocked out straight away.

“I did not lay a finger on him.”

During cross examination, Mack denied claims by John Price, prosecuting, that text messages sent by him saying he had been involved in the attack were accurate.

He earlier told the court he had sent messages bragging about the attack, even though he had not been involved in the assault.

Mack denies causing actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm with intent and robbery. Knowles, 18, of Oxford Road, Old Marston, admitted all three charges. The case continues.