The stepfather of a man kicked to death in a park described him to a jury as someone who only wanted to help others.

Stuart Foxley was giving evidence at a murder trial at Lewes Crown Court.

His stepson Seph Lawrance, 22, was found dying on a footpath in Goffs Park, Crawley, in January.

Andrew Goss, 24, of Monarch Close, Crawley, and Aadeel Virani, 21, of Jewel Walk, Crawley, have denied murdering Mr Lawrance and robbing him of his mobile phone.

Mr Foxley, partner of Mr Lawrance's mother, Alison, for eight years, described his stepson as a kind and caring person.

He said: "He was polite, kind, considerate and helpful.

"I felt I knew him very well. I was very interested in the things he did and I tried to do my job as a stepfather to the best of my ability."

Mr Foxley said Mr Lawrance, who worked at Costa Coffee at Gatwick Airport, had joined an organisation dedicated to doing good deeds for others on a Friday.

But, he said: "He would carry out good deeds any time of the day, the week or the night."

The jury has heard during the trial claims from Goss that Mr Lawrance was fighting with Virani. But Mr Foxley said his stepson, who had received medical treatment for being underweight, had never shown any signs of being aggressive or violent.

He said: "He never raised a clenched fist to anybody. He would never initiate or take part in any violence."

Mr Lawrance, of Leopold Road, Crawley, died of severe head injuries.

The court has heard there were no witnesses to the fatal attack, which took place as Mr Lawrance was walking through the park to visit a friend.

The trial continues.