Eighties pop idol Shakin' Stevens has accused a press photographer pressing assault charges against him of wanting his "five minutes of fame".
Giving evidence on his own behalf before District Judge Bernie Kelly the 61-year-old singer, appearing under his real name of Michael Barrett at Ballymena Magistrates Court, admitted being "very stressed - very tired".
He is accused of assaulting photographer and self-confessed fan Hugo McNeice and smashing a camera lens during a concert at Ballymena's Tullyglass Hotel.
'Big joke'
On Thursday he said that but for the lack of "independent witnesses and CCTV" he wouldn't even be before the court.
Asked by prosecuting lawyer Jane Allen if he was "annoyed" about being charged, Stevens replied: "I am not annoyed, I am frustrated when you think that one man can cause this mess and cost thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of pounds, and thinks it is all a big joke".
The Welsh-born, Buckinghamshire-based singer who repeatedly maintained he was "100 per cent definitely sure" he never touched Mr McNiece or his camera, added: "He wanted his five minutes of fame and that's what he wanted".
Shakin claimed that the snapper, in an effort to "show off to his friends", had "very brazenly" gatecrashed his concert at Ballymena's Tullyglass Hotel last December.
"He came in willy-nilly to show off to his mates. I am saddened by that", said the singer who went even further to suggest he "wouldn't put anything past Mr McNiece", when questioned about the alleged damage to his camera lens.
Shakin also maintained that at all times he acted like a true professional and wasn't high on adrenalin, claiming that he was "in a very good mood with the audience, and we were all having a very good time".
He said that he couldn't let Mr McNiece take photographs during a live concert as it was not allowed, adding that if he had "not stopped him he would have continued taking terrible photographs" and that he had lifted the mic stand in "the spur of the moment".
But he dismissed as "absolute rubbish" that he had reacted in an "aggressive way", and as the prosecution attempted to put their case to him, that he had "slammed, jammed" the stand into Mr McNiece, the singer kept interrupting.
"Not true .... I don't believe it .... untrue .... I don't believe it, it didn't happen .... I didn't see his head jolt back at all ....I don't believe that, there was not contact, nothing at all," Shakin' interjected as Ms Allen detailed the allegations against him.
The case continues.
Although a further two days have been listed for the middle of next month, a final ruling in the case from District Judge Kelly may not occur until later in the New Year.
© UTV News