A teenager told a court today how she watched from the doorway as an elderly sex offender was kicked and stamped to death in his living room.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named, said she was walking through Queen Street, Redcar, with Aidrian Brown and Thomas Croft, both 42, when Brown kicked his way into 73-year-old Arnold Hartley's home.

Newcastle Crown Court has heard how Mr Hartley, who had served a 12 month prison sentence for sex attacks on children, was already a regular target for vigilante attacks when Brown burst into his home in the dead of night.

The teen, who gave her evidence via a television link, told jurors yesterday how Brown went inside the house followed by Croft. She said: "I could hear someone shouting help. There was someone shouting help me, get off me.

"I went running in."

She told the court how Mr Hartley was on the floor with Brown standing over him and there was a tipped over chair lying a few feet away.

When asked by prosecutor Paul Sloan QC if Brown was doing anything she replied; "Yes, he was stamping on the man's face."

Mr Sloan asked her how many times she saw him do that and she replied; "About five times. It was like sharp, one after the other."

The teenager demonstrated how Brown added force to the weight of his stamps by putting his hands up to the wall. And she added: "I said pack it in because you are going to kill him. I shouted it twice.

"I said he was dead and Adi (Adrian Brown) turned around and said he isn't.

"He started searching his pockets."

The teenager said she could see blood on Mr Hartley's face and told jurors how Croft had also tried to pull Brown off his victim but he continued to stamp on him regardless.

She said she did not move from the doorway and had an unobstructed view of the attack which she believed left Mr Hartley dead.

The court has heard how after the brutal killing Brown laughed about what he had done and boasted to a pal: "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 and the trial continues.