Sage Willoughby, 22, Rhian Graham, 30, Milo Ponsford, 26, and Jake Skuse, 33, are accused of involvement in toppling the bronze memorial in Bristol city centre. All four deny criminal damage on June 7 last year, during a Black Lives Matter protest.

       Carpenter Willoughby told Bristol Crown Court he grew up in an area of the city with a large Afro-Caribbean population.

       He said: "Imagine having a Hitler statue in front of a Holocaust survivor. I believe they are similar."

       Willoughby denied he acted violently, saying: "That was not an act of violence, that was an act of love for my fellow man."

       Willoughby, who was seen on camera scaling the memorial and passing ropes around it, said the only other similar size statue he had seen toppled was Saddam Hussein's in Iraq.

       He said: "It is not something I expected was possible. When it happened I was as much surprised as thrilled and happy." The trial continues.