A wealthy businessman died from a bullet wound to his head, a jury heard.

Ken Harvey, 44, who ran a courier company, was shot five times as he sat at the wheel of his Mercedes in a quiet lane.

The fatal wound hit him in the right temple and is believed to have caused him to lose consciousness almost immediately.

Forensic pathologist Dr Vesna Djurovic detailed the injuries caused by the bullets to the jury at a murder trial at Lewes Crown Court.

Dr Djurovic said another bullet hit Mr Harvey in the face and the others were fired into his shoulders and chest.

She said: "I would expect he lost consciousness in a relative short period of time."

The post mortem examination also revealed wounds caused by glass shattering.

The father-of-three, who lived in Broad Oak, near Hastings, was killed on his way to work at about 6.30am on the morning of August 18, 2003, when his was confronted by two men on a motorbike three miles from his home in Cripps Corner.

The pillion rider shot Mr Harvey before the two men fled on the stolen motorbike, which had a false number plate .

The jury has heard detectives investigating the shooting believe Mr Harvey was the victim of a contract killing and the motive for his death was linked to drug trafficking.

At the time of the murder Mr Harvey was on bail awaiting trial accused of importing cocaine worth half a million pounds into the UK. After his death, his co-defendant, George Taylor, from Kent, blamed Mr Harvey, but was convicted by a jury and jailed for 20 years.

Two men are on trial accused of the murder. Colin Meek, 35, of Sanderstone Road, Leyton, East London, and Jason Bradley, 37, of Claygate Crescent, Croydon, both deny the charge.

The trial continues.