A pathologist has told how an elderly businessman suffered a severe and sustained attack and was left with more than 60 separate injuries.

Dr Ashley Fagan-Earl told Maidstone Crown Court how Roy Blackman died after being kicked, punched and stamped on in his bungalow in Biddenden

The forensic pathologist, who works at King’s College Hospital in London, also revealed Mr Blackman suffered a traumatic brain injury which alone would have killed him.

Mark Love, 38, is alleged to have brutally beaten him to death at his home in March this year. He denies murder.

Burglars who broke into Mr Blackman's home took a safe containing between £100,000 and £250,000, the court has heard.

The jury was told the raid was carried out by the same gang who launched a violent attack at the home of a champion clay pigeon marksman.

Mr Blackman, 73, who lived in Headcorn Road, was attacked by the gang and beaten until he died.

Mr Fagan-Earl could not tell the jury at what point during the brutal attack the pensioner had died, but said he had tried to defend himself as he had defensive wounds to his arm which were caused by a knife as he had held them up in anticipation of the attack.

Dr Fagan-Earl told the court he had found 64 separate injuries on Mr Blackman’s body during the post-mortem examination.

The cause of Mr Blackman’s death was given as multiple blunt force trauma to his head, chest and abdomen.

He had black eyes, a broken nose, fractured left cheekbone, severe abrasions, bruises and lacerations to his body and fractures to the base of his skull with bleeding consistent with a severe brain injury.

In fact, the injury to his brain was so severe, a specialist expert neuropathologist carried out a further examination on it and found there was a traumatic brain injury throughout his brain which would have been caused by significant force having been applied to his head.

The neuropathologist, Prof Safa Al-Sarraj, said the injuries to his brain were usually caused by a fall from height, a road accident or being kicked and stamped on.

Dr Fagan-Earl also told the jury he found patterned bruises and abrasions on Mr Blackman's body which would be consistent with being kicked and stamped on.

Mr Fagan-Earl also said four of Mr Blackman's ribs had been broken and the injuries were consistent with being kicked.

He added: “The victim Roy Blackman, suffered severe injuries as a result of a blunt force trauma assault when he suffered heavy punches, stamps and kicks.

“These multiple blunt force trauma injuries were on his neck, chest, head and abdomen and the totality of those injuries led to his death.”

Love is on trial accused of murdering the elderly garage owner and bird breeder in March, and aggravated burglary at the home of George and Kate Digweed in Ewhurst Lane, Northiam, Rye, East Sussex, a month before.

Prosecutor Simon Taylor also alleged that another man, William Smith – who was later shot dead by police – was part of the gang involved in both offences.

Mr Taylor said DNA from both Love, of Frittenden Road, Staplehurst, and Smith, who was 36 and from Golford near Cranbrook, was found at the scene of both crimes.

The trial continues.