A former star of West Ham’s youth team who glassed a bouncer in a row over parking a Porsche said he lashed out because he feared he was about to be beaten up.

Izzy Iriekpen, 33, of Westcliffe Apartments in South Wharf Road, Paddington, who played for the Hammers between 1998 and 2003, allegedly started throwing punches when he was approached by door staff outside a pub in Notting Hill.

The Old Bailey heard he hit Ymer Topuzi in the mouth before smashing a glass or bottle over the head of Simon Williams.

Iriekpen has admitted striking both men, but said he believed he was about to come under attack.

Mr Williams alleges that Iriekpen, who also played for Swansea City and Bristol City during his career, grabbed him round his throat before shattering the glass on his head. But Iriekpen said he was hit first by the bouncer without warning, and he lashed out in response, forgetting he was holding a glass in his hand.

He said he accidentally glassed Mr Williams, and lashed out at Mr Topuzi because he was threatened to kill him.

“I thought they were going to beat me up”, he told the court.

“I thought they were going to grab me in a position where I couldn’t defend myself, and I thought I was going to get beaten up.”

The row broke out when Iriekpen began talking to a young woman who blocked the pavement outside the bar with her black Porsche, the court has heard.

The 5ft 8inch tall bouncer said he asked the driver to move, and objected to the way Iriekpen aggressively responded to the request.

Iriekpen denies common assault wounding with intent and an alternative charge of unlawful wounding.

The trial continues.