Mike Ashley tells judge he's not a regular drinker but a "power drinker"

Newcastle United owner and Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has told a High Court judge that he likes getting drunk.

Mr Ashley told Mr Justice Leggatt that he was not a regular drinker but a power drinker''.

He was giving evidence on the fourth day of a High Court trial in London after being sued by investment banker Jeffrey Blue.

Mr Blue says the 52-year-old businessman promised to pay him £15m if he used his expertise to increase Sports Direct's share price to £8 a share.

He says Mr Ashley paid only 1 million - and he wants 14 million damages.

Mr Ashley denies the claim and says Mr Blue is talking nonsense''.

The judge has heard that the dispute between Mr Blue and Mr Ashley relates to a conversation in a central London pub.

Mr Blue says Mr Ashley made a promise during a meeting in the Horse and Groom four years ago.

A lawyer representing Mr Blue asked how much Mr Ashley had drunk at the Horse and Groom.

Mr Ashley calculated that within an hour he would have drunk four to five pints.

It was a fun evening - drinking at pace,'' he said.I like to get drunk. I am a power drinker.''

Mr Justice Leggatt began analysing evidence at a High Court trial in London on Monday.

Mr Ashley told Mr Justice Leggatt, in a witness statement, how he met Mr Blue and three other finance specialists at the pub in January 2013.

When we got to the pub we started drinking heavily at the bar and consumed a lot of alcohol during the evening,'' Mr Ashley told the judge.

We must have had four or five rounds of drinks in the first hour.

I can't remember the details of the conversations that we had in the pub as it was a heavy night of drinking.''

He said he recalled talk about football.

I can't remember the detail of these conversations but I do remember that we had a lot of drinks and a lot of banter,'' said Mr Ashley

We were pulling each other's legs about what hypothetical value my shares would be worth 'on paper' at different share prices.

It was a fun night, as it was intended to be, and everyone was on good form.

We got on well, so much so, that we ended up going out after the pub to a bar in the West End where we stayed until the early morning.

I had drunk so much that I can't remember which bar we went to.

I don't remember Mr Blue joining us and I can't remember what time he left.''

Mr Ashley added: I find it incredible that Mr Blue is actually suggesting that I made a binding agreement for 15 million.

It's nonsense.

If I did say to Mr Blue that I would pay him 15 million if he could increase (Sports Direct's) share price to 8, it would be obvious to everyone, including Mr Blue, that I wasn't being serious.''

The case continues