A teenager denies taking part in a brutal attack which left a father-of-two dead.

Jason Jackson told a jury he watched as Gary Rae was battered with baseball bats.

He said another youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, accused of murdering Mr Rae wasn't there when it happened. He said: "He definitely was not there. I did not have a role in the attack, I was just there."

Jackson said he ran away and felt shocked and sickened after Mr Rae was attacked outside his flat in High Street, Hailsham.

The 18-year-old removal man said he and two others decided to hand themselves in after they found out the police were looking for them.

Mr Rae, a 40-year-old divorcee, suffered horrific injuries after he was repeatedly hit by William Devall with a 3ft metal baseball bat.

A 17-year-old juvenile has told the jury he joined in the attack with a wooden baseball bat but only used it on Mr Rae's legs and had not inflicted any fatal injuries.

Jackson, Shane Challice and two more juveniles are alleged to have either punched or kicked Mr Rae or encouraged the others to.

Five of the gang had been at a party at the home of Shane Challice in nearby South Road on May 29, last year.

Jackson said Devall turned up with a baseball bat saying he wanted to cripple Mr Rae and get him out of Hailsham. Hove Crown Court has heard Devall was jealous his ex-girlfriend Amy Heasman had visited Mr Rae's flat.

Jackson said he went with the other four because he did not want to be left in the flat with people he did not know.

He said: "I thought there would just be an argument and did not think there was going to be an attack."

Devall, 19, of Meadow Road, Hailsham, and a 17-year-old deny murder but admit manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Jackson, of Albert Road, Polegate, Challice, 19, of South Road, Hailsham, and two juveniles aged 16 and 17, deny murder.

The trial continues.