A man told a court how he and his friend were attacked from behind by a gang of men.

Joe Burton said he and Matthew Heading were assaulted without warning as they walked along a city centre street.

Mr Heading, 41, a street drinker and a heroin addict, died two days later.

At Hove Crown Court five men are on trial accused of murder.

The jury heard Mr Heading and Mr Burton were attacked outside the Glenwood Lodge hostel in Grand Parade, Brighton, where Mr Heading lived, on June 21 last year.

The prosecution allege Mr Heading was kicked up to 40 times and one of the attackers jumped and landed on his head with both feet.

They allege a witness described seeing Mr Heading kicked with the force of a "David Beckham free kick".

The court has heard the attack followed a row between Mr Heading and a pregnant woman in a mobile phone shop in London Road.

Mr Burton told the court: "The first thing I remember is footsteps running up behind and being knocked around the face. I was pretty drunk and I think I fell over. There were more thumps around my head.

"The next thing I knew I went to the steps outside Glenwood Lodge and people were around Matt, caring for him."

Mr Burton, who suffered bruising and a black eye, said: "I got angry and I went to look for the people but I didn't see anybody. I ran around a bit, shouting and screaming."

Mr Burton said Mr Heading was taken to hospital but released later.

He said he met up with his friend the following day when he was complaining of bruising.

The last time he saw Mr Heading, who suffered from severe health problems including liver disease, was when his friend fell asleep in an alley off London Road.

The next day, June 23, when he called at the hostel, he was told by staff Mr Heading had been found dead in his room.

The jury heard Mr Heading died of a ruptured spleen.

The prosecution allege the injury was caused during the attack.

During cross-examination Mr Burton described Mr Heading as "mouthy, but not aggressive."

He said Mr Heading drank about two one-litre bottles of sherry each day, and often fell over because of his drinking and problems caused by his poor health.

Adam Todd, 25, of Ropetackle Walk, Shoreham, Joe Budgen, 19, of Ann Street, Brighton, Martin Keating, 28, of Taunton Road, Brighton, Paul Hamlet, 32, of Falcon Court, Whitehawk, Brighton, and Oliver McNulty, 18, of New England Street, Brighton, all deny murder. They also deny causing actual bodily harm to Joe Burton.

The trial continues.