'Gang left man for dead'

A father of three was violently set upon by a gang of youths before being left for dead, a court has heard.

Gary Newlove, 47, was kicked and punched by the five male youths outside his home in Warrington, Cheshire, after confronting them over their anti-social behaviour.

Mr Newlove, a sales manager, was rounded on by the gang, who knocked him to the ground, punched him and kicked him.

The attack was so violent that one of the youth's shoes became lodged between his body and the ground, Chester Crown Court was told.

Four youths, two aged 17, one aged 16 and a 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, deny murdering Mr Newlove.

Adam Swellings, 19, of Crewe, Cheshire, denies murder but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Michael Chambers QC, prosecuting, said: "For some time, Garry Newlove's street in Warrington had been plagued by gangs of youths indulging in anti-social behaviour fuelled by cheap alcohol, causing a disturbance and vandalising parked cars.

"On Friday night, August 10 of this year, Mr Newlove went out to remonstrate with a gang of youths, which included the five defendants.

"They closed around him, knocked him to the ground and punched and kicked him, causing fatal head injuries."

Mr Newlove died two days later in hospital of a brain haemorrhage.

The jury of six men and six women will visit the scene where Mr Newlove was attacked, which is close to his family home on Station Road North, Fearnhead.

Mr Chambers told the jury Mr Newlove moved into the house in July 2004 with his wife and three daughters, as "they thought they were moving into a nice modern house in a pleasant street".

But he insisted the behaviour of gangs has made the lives of the Newlove family and the lives of other residents "a misery".

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.