A former security guard was punched and strangled to death by a man she met at a staff Christmas party, a court has been told.

Charmian Falkner, 33, was found dead by her family at the flat of James Flynn, who is accused of her murder.

The body had been wrapped in two sheets and left on a bed.

At Lewes Crown Court yesterday, Flynn, 34, of Dorset Gardens, Brighton, denied murdering Miss Falkner but admitted manslaughter.

The jury was told the Crown rejected his plea so he faces trial on the murder charge.

Sonia Woodley, prosecuting, said Flynn was a man fuelled by drink who lost his temper and punched Miss Falkner more than once and strangled her at his bedsit.

Miss Falkner moved to Brighton when she was 17 to attend Brighton Polytechnic and afterwards worked as a security guard at the Brighton Centre for ten years. She left the city last year to live with her mother in Devon.

The court heard she kept in contact with friends and returned to Brighton on December 16 2001 to spend Christmas with a former boyfriend, who has since died of cancer.

Miss Woodley told how on the evening of December 21, Miss Falkner joined staff from the Brighton Centre in a pub.

They then headed to a party at the Skyline Restaurant at the Brighton Centre and then on to the Queensbury Arms in Brighton.

Miss Woodley said Miss Falkner became acquainted with Flynn during the evening.

The defendant is originally from London but moved to Brighton in August 2001 and had secured a casual job in the general services department at the Brighton Centre.

Witnesses told the jury at one point Miss Falkner sat between Flynn's legs with her head on his chest. He was seen to kiss her neck.

But Miss Woodley said one colleague became concerned for Miss Falkner as Flynn was coming on strong.

At the end of the evening, the couple caught a taxi but the driver reported they were arguing and Flynn was aggressive.

Some time after arriving at Flynn's bedsit, Miss Falkner was punched and strangled to death. On December 23, Flynn went to London and spent Christmas with friends.

He told them: "I have really done it this time. I think I have killed someone."

Flynn surrendered to Heathrow police on December 26 on unrelated matters and while held in custody confessed to a prison chaplain.

Miss Falkner's body was found on December 27 by her sister Abigail and her boyfriend.

The case continues.