A former national squash champion told police he believed he would get into a fight with his stepson just three days before he died from a single punch, a court heard.

Officers with body worn cameras filmed 6ft 4in tall Colin Payne after they were called to his Dartford home about Douglas Herridge’s behaviour.

Businessman Mr Payne told how the then 17-year-old grabbed his t-shirt and ripped it during a clash.

The 54-year-old stepfather, who represented England at squash and won the over-50s British title, declared: “I cannot fight my way out of a paper bag.”

He told in the footage shown to the jury at Maidstone Crown Court: “I think at the time it flashed through my mind I was going to end up in a fight.

“I think I was probably about 11 the last time I had a fight, and that was because I was picked on at school and forced into a fight.”

Officers went to the family home in Sackville Road, where Mr Payne was living with his partner Ina Herridge and her two sons, on the evening of November 16 last year.

Herridge ripped the t-shirt after a row about “highly inappropriate” material on his brother’s phone. He told officers he and Mr Payne had started arguing.

“We both started shouting at each other and I grabbed his top,” he said. “We continued to shout at each other and I was pushed back into my bedroom and onto my bed.”

Herridge said the row ended with his stepfather walking off. He admitted: “I think we both acted badly.”

The court has heard Herridge struck the fatal blow after Mr Payne intervened in a row between the teenager and his mother, an NHS risk manager.

Mr Payne collapsed and died soon afterwards from a devastating brain injury.

The teenager, now 18, denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter.

"I think I was probably about 11 the last time I had a fight, and that was because I was picked on at school and forced into a fight" - Colin Payne

His father, David Herridge, when giving evidence was asked by Judith Khan QC, defending, if he had ever been assaulted by the teenager.

He replied: “Not ever, not even close. He was a brilliant kid.”

Mr Herridge, a watchmaker, said he phoned his son after Mr Payne had suffered the fatal blow.

He told him: “It’s serious Doug, you have got to come back home and face what’s happened. It’s really serious.”

He added: “I could tell he was terribly upset. There was some form of expletive and he put the phone down. I don’t know what it was but I think it was like astonishment.

“It wasn’t directed at me, I think it was of the situation. I think he worked out something.”

When his son went to live with his natural father he had to change schools and leave many friends behind.

But Mr Herridge said he began to do well at school and was given “amazing reports” by teachers.

He choked back tears as he told of slapping the teenager on his back for accidentally flooding his house in West Malling.

Mr Herridge had returned to his home from the cinema to find the bathroom, bedroom, landing and stairs flooded.

Mr Payne’s ex-wife of 17 years, Clare, said in a statement: “Colin was a gentle man, not violent or aggressive in any way.”

The trial continues.