AN attacker kicked to death and strangled a paedophile pensioner because he "deserved it", a court heard yesterday.

Arnold Hartley, who had served a jail sentence for sex attacks on children, was already a regular target for vigilante attacks when Adrian Brown is alleged to have kicked his way into his home.

Brown punched the 73-year-old off his living room chair before repeatedly stamping on his face and head during the drunken attack, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

Even as a friend tried to drag the defendant away, it was said he continued to stamp on the pensioner's head, shouting: "He deserved it. He's a paedophile. He deserves everything he gets."

Brown, who had been drinking heavily, later warned two witnesses to the attack to keep quiet or there would be "broken necks", the court heard.

Only days after the killing, it was alleged that Brown boasted to a friend: "He got what he deserves and all paedophiles should suffer the same. They all deserve it, they want putting down."

Brown, of Station Road, Redcar, denies murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Paul Sloan, prosecuting, said that Mr Hartley's home in Queen Street, Redcar, had been regularly vandalised after his release from prison.

Mr Sloan told the court: "In October, 2001, Arnold Hartley was convicted of sexual offences against children. He was sentenced to a term of 12 months imprisonment.

"The fact he was a convicted paedophile, say the prosecution, may well lie behind the fatal attack that occurred.

"His house became a target of attacks and vandalism and on November 6, 2003, the windows at the front of his house were permanently boarded up because they had been broken so often."

The court heard that on the night of the attack Brown had been drinking cider at a bed and breakfast with friends and had drunk three or four pints of beer at local pubs.

He then had a row with his girlfriend and was walking a 16-year-old girl to a flat where she was staying for the night.

Suddenly, he decided to attack Mr Hartley, whose home they passed on the way, it was alleged. The 16-year-old, who witnessed the killing told police how she had seen Brown kick the front door and the internal lobby door open.

She then made her way into the house and could hear somebody shouting: "Help, somebody help me" from the back room of the house.

Mr Sloan said: "When she entered the room the deceased was lying on his back in the corner.

"There was an overturned chair adjacent to him, and the defendant, Adrian Brown, when she entered that room, was stamping down very hard on the deceased's face with his right foot.

"At the same time the defendant placed his hand and then hands against the wall in order to lend himself support as he stamped.

"She saw about four or five stamps and she also saw there was blood upon the deceased's face.

"At that point she shouted, 'You are going to kill him."

Thomas Croft, 42, who was with Brown and the 16-year-old that night, had tried dragging the attacker away.

Mr Sloan said: "He continued to stamp on the deceased's face.

"Thomas Croft told police Adrian Brown said, 'He deserved it. He's a paedophile. He deserves everything he gets'."

The trial continues.

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