Charlie Brooks, the racehorse trainer accused of trying to pervert the course of justice along with his wife, Rebekah, once drank a bottle of Fairy Liquid to try to cure a hangover, the Old Bailey heard on Monday.

A friend called as a character witness for his defence said that Brooks was "capable of being completely daft".

In a statement read to court, the jury heard that Sara Bradstock, the daughter of the now deceased former jockey and BBC commentator Lord Oaksey, is a good friend of Charlie Brooks, who was the best man at her wedding.

"I once found him frothing at the mouth looking close to death one morning, only to discover that he had not been bitten by a rabid dog, but had drunk a pint of Fairy Liquid to try and rid himself of the excesses of the night before," she said.

Bradstock said of the allegation against Brooks that it was "out of character that he is capable of perverting the course of justice in the cold, dishonest and calculating way that he is being accused of".

Bradstock described Brooks "as great fun to have around" and "capable of impetuously throwing himself into ventures". She recalled one "young lady who had a crush on him" who said that she had "never met anyone so worldly and innocent at the same time".

Brooks has been accused of stashing computers and documents behind a bin at the underground carpark at his Chelsea home the day his wife was arrested. He denies the charge of perverting the course of justice.

On Monday his barrister, Neil Saunders, read five character references to the court, including one from his business partner, with whom he buys, trains and sells racehorses.

"He is a man of great integrity. He is honest to the point of losing money if there is any danger of either of us losing money," said Tom Lacey.

He said the trial had put an obvious strain on him but that his priority throughout had been his wife.

Also testifying for him was the racing editor of the Daily Telegraph, Kevin Perry, who said the "allegations seem to be out of character for the Charlie Brooks I have come to know".

He said he sincerely hoped Brooks would return to writing once the trial was over.

Sir Mark Prescott, a veteran trainer at Newmarket, who has known Brooks for 35 years, said he might have a "cavalier exterior" but he was "thoughtful" and a "clear thinker". He said he was a man of integrity who would not be lulled into any of the many opportunities for "nefarious" dealings in the industry and was a "giver" and "not a sponger".

Earlier the trial heard from Pizza Hut's restaurant excellence analyst, who confirmed that one pizza and garlic bread had been ordered on the evening that Rebekah Brooks was arrested.

The jury has heard this was delivered to her husband and that the prosecution's case is the pizza delivery was concocted as a "cover" for the return of computers and other belongings that Brooks had had removed from the Chelsea Harbour underground carpark earlier in the day.

Both Charlie and Rebekah Brooks and other defendants deny all charges against them.

Mr Justice Saunders told the jury on Monday that Clive Goodman, the News of the World's former royal editor, was still not well enough to continue cross-examination by Andy Coulson's counsel. Stuart Kuttner, the News of the World's former managing editor, will start in the witness box on Tuesday, he said.

The trial continues.