A DAD-OF-TWO was killed by his drinking pals in a North Yorkshire attack because he bragged about being a football hooligan, a court heard.

Clifford Honeyman, 42, and Andrew Thomas Stevenson, 39, carried out a "sustained callous attack" on 50-year-old Richard Walker leaving him with 39 rib fractures, it was said.

Mr Walker had boasted about smashing up the Strawberry Public House at Newcastle United's ground, the court heard.

The victim was stamped, kicked and punched so violently that he had brain injuries following attack in Scarborough.

Mr Walker would have died from the "massive" chest injuries alone, Leeds Crown Court heard.

The court heard the defendants and Mr Walker had been drinking at the flat of another friend, Graham Woss, on October 19.

Prosecutor John Elvidge said: "Another friend who was in the flat, Graham Woss, told the two defendants that he [the victim] had had enough but Honeyman said, 'I'll say when he's had enough'. Mr Walker was then heard asking, 'why are you doing this to me?' and Stevenson replied 'because we can't stand the sight of you'."

Mr Woss said Mr Walker had wanted to leave following the fracas with Stevenson, but Honeyman held him down.

The pair continued the attack into the evening and slept in sleeping bags together in the living room when Mr Woss had gone to bed. The next morning, the two defendants said Mr Walker was sleeping and went out to seek more alcohol.

In his police interview, the court heard Honeyman claimed to be asleep after being charged with murder and Stevenson admitted he "didn't know whether he committed the assault". However, the jury were shown pictures that Honeyman had taken on his phone halfway through beating-up Mr Walker.

The pair, both of no fixed address, together deny murder. A jury was also told Stevenson, Honeyman and a third defendant Steven Atkinson, also of no fixed address, all denied two robberies. The court heard the three had preyed on "vulnerable drinkers" in Scarborough and had initiated violence to get their bank cards and pin numbers. The trial continues.