“I DIDN’T touch him.” That is what a jury was told yesterday by the youngest of three teenagers accused of beating to death Big Issue seller, Ralph Millward.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, told Winchester Crown Court he kept well clear of the fatal attack on the homeless man.

He and two 17-year-olds, who also cannot be named, all deny murdering Mr Millward, 41, near his pitch outside Marks and Spencer in May last year.

The 15-year-old said he and another boy hung back in the M&S car park as the two older defendants went to ask Mr Millward for tobacco.

“I heard shouting so I went around the corner,” he told the court.

“I saw one of them kick the man about six or seven times, but I didn’t assault him”.

Asked separately if he had kicked, punched or stamped on Mr Millward, the 15-year-old responded “no” each time.

“Did you have any direct physical contact with him at all?” asked his defence counsel, Jane Humphryes QC. The 15-year-old replied: “No, none.”

The teenager went on to tell the jury he tried to pull one of his friends off Mr Millward during the assault.

It may have been at this time fibres from the victim’s clothing got on to his clothing, the 15-year-old added.

The teenager told the jury he was “upset” at witnessing the attack and was “terrified” when later charged with murder. He explained inconsistencies in his police interviews by telling the court he was worried about “grassing” on his mates and his fear of them as he was the youngest.

The prosecution alleges the three drunken teenagers all attacked the Big Issue seller when he refused to give up his tobacco.

The case continues.