A dustman has denied telling a friend he had “nudged” a colleague who then fell under the wheels of a lorry and died.

Peter Hudson told a jury he was directing the truck as it reversed into an unloading bay at Folkestone’s Recycling Centre before the tragic accident that killed John Head.

He said he hadn’t seen his friend Mr Head until he became aware of “something yellow going round and round like a washing machine”, a court was told.

John Head, 60, died in October 2013 while working for Veolia Environmental Service (UK) at the Ross Depot Recycling Centre.

The company has denied a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act that it failed to ensure Mr Head’s safety.

Defence barrister Mark Watson QC asked Hudson about evidence he had given at the inquest following Mr Head’s death.

Later he went to the Jolly Frenchman Pub for a drink with his partner and a friend called Phil.

Mr Watson asked if he told Phil: “I got away with that” and later he was asked what he had meant.

The QC said: “You said (to Phil): 'I gave him a nudge and he went under. I didn’t mean to.’"

“You said: 'I gave him a nudge and he went under. I didn’t mean to...’" - Mark Watson QC

Mr Hudson denied he had made any of the remarks, telling the jury: “I didn’t say that at all. To me it was the sickest, vilest accusation.”

Mr Hudson told the jury at Canterbury Crown Court that as he was controlling the reversal of his lorry he suddenly became aware of “something yellow going round and round like a washing machine” under the wheels.

He said he looked and saw an arm and realised it was Mr Head who had been crushed – and he ran to the office to summon help.

Asked why he hadn’t gone to his friend’s aid, he replied: “I just panicked. I saw the side of John’s face. I didn’t know what to do. I just had to tell someone.”

The QC asked: “I am going to suggest that on October 18 you two had a falling out.”

Mr Hudson: “I can’t recall. There was no need for us to have fallen out.”

Mr Hudson – known as 'Chelsea Pete' because of his love of football - said the two men had been “close friends” and often talked about sport and fishing.

The two had lived in the same block of flats at Radnor Park Road in Folkestone before Mr Hudson had moved to a new home in Bouverie Square.

He denied a suggestion that at the time of the tragedy the two men “were less close” saying the men had shared "normal chit-chat” the morning of the tragedy.

Mr Hudson also denied the two had fallen out after his divorce and his relationship with a new partner, or over money issues.

Mr Head, 60, died in October 2013 while working for Veolia Environmental Service (UK) Ltd in Folkestone.

“We say that Mr Head was let down by his employers and exposed to the risk of a collision with large vehicles being manoeuvred around the site, which was insufficiently regulated...” - Prosecutor Jonathon Ashby-Norman QC

The company has denied a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act that it failed to ensure Mr Head’s safety.

Prosecutor Jonathon Ashby-Norman QC claimed that the system in place for the delivering of waste to the site had been “a free for all”.

He claimed Veolia did not have a “proper system” of safety ensuring people could move safely around the site.

“We say that Mr Head was let down by his employers and exposed to the risk of a collision with large vehicles being manoeuvred around the site, which was insufficiently regulated.”

Mr Head worked in a two-man system delivering waste to the site and he acted as a “look out” to ensure the truck could be reversed safely into the loading bays.

The jury head that after his colleague stopped his vehicle, Mr Head got out and his driver assumed he was going to the toilet.

But Mr Watson QC, told the jury that the incident may have been the result of what another employee did, which led to Mr Head falling under the wheels of a dustcart.

The trial continues.