A 24-year-old man died from his injuries after he was beaten and kicked “like a football” in a racist attack a court was told.

In the attack in Ashford, Sri Lankan Shankar Kathirgamanathan and his friend were called "F****** Pakis" before Tony Pile and James Rossiter launched the assault, it was alleged.

Mr Kathirgamanathan, known as Sebastian, was then punched to the ground, kicked and his head was repeatedly stamped on, Maidstone Crown Court was told. He died from his injuries two weeks later.

Anthony Haycroft, prosecuting, told a jury of seven men and five women at Maidstone Crown Court: "This was a vicious, brutal and unprovoked attack which was clearly racially motivated.

"The defendants punched him in the head and body, before kicking him to the ground and, not content with that, once he was on the ground both men continued to kick him in the body and head, even after he had stopped moving altogether.

"Not content with that, they then stamped repeatedly on his head."

Pile, of Baileys Field, South Ashford, and Rossiter, of Loudon Path, Godinton Park, Ashford, deny murder.

Mr Haycroft said Pile had on Monday admitted manslaughter. "In other words, he now accepts he unlawfully killed Sebastian," he said. "The Crown do not accept that plea. They say it is more serious than that - it is murder."

Rossiter, he said, was to admit kicking the victim, telling police: "I didn’t kick him as hard as if you were going to score a goal for England."

Pile, 18, and 22-year-old Rossiter had been to the Swan pub in Tufton Street, Ashford, at lunchtime on April 22 last year. They had 10-12 pints of lager.

Both men had tattoos. Rossiter in particular had a British bulldog and a Made in England tattoo around his navel.

Mr Haycrocft said Pile, who is 6ft 2in tall, and Rossiter, who is 6ft, ended up on a footpath near a railway bridge at Victoria Road.

They saw Daniel Biddle and Rossiter demanded money from him. Rossiter threw a punch at Mr Biddle but missed.

As Mr Biddle was walking off he heard a shout of "F****** Pakis". He saw both Pile and Rossiter run aggressively at Mr Kathirgamanathan and his friend Selvarjahj Jeynakumar.

He saw them attack both men. Then Pile kicked and stamped on slightly built Mr Kathirgamanathan, who worked at a Kentucky Fried Chicken takeaway in the town.

"This probably lasted a minutre or so and was, no doubt, a shocking sight," said the prosecutor. "It is not a matter of who did exactly what, because the Crown say this was a joint attack of punching and kicking and they left Sebastian unconscious on the floor."

The trial continues.