A row between two men in a village street ended in tragedy when one of them knocked the other to the ground with a single punch, a court heard.

Paul Howarth struck his head on the kerb after Mark Cable snapped and lashed out, it was alleged.

Mr Howarth died from a severe head injury two days later.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the 52-year-old was an alcoholic and had been drinking with friends Matthew Lynch and Kerrie Mason in a park in Birchington on April 9 last year.

At about 8.15pm they were walking along Lymington Road, approaching a junction with Stone Barn Avenue, where Cable, 46, lived.

He had just gone to his car there to return a DVD to a neighbour.

As Mr Howarth, who also lived in the village, passed with his dog and the friends, he made a comment about the noise the car was making.

Cable later described Mr Howarth as “a pain” and said he had previously put up with his comments.

“On this occasion, he was in no mood to back down,” said the prosecutor. “The consequences were to prove fatal for Mr Howarth.

“The defendant got out of his car. There was no real need to do so. He was not under any physical threat. We say he wanted to engage.

“He approached Mr Howarth and told him to do himself a favour and come back when he was not drunk, to stop playing to his audience.

“The defendant got back in his car to go. As he did so, Mr Howarth made another comment. He told the defendant to ---- off, or words to that effect.

“By now, Mr Cable had had enough. He snapped and got out of his car and went quickly to Mr Howarth.”

Mr Howarth was walking away with his back to Cable. Miss Mason shouted a warning as Cable approached.

“He turned to face him and the defendant delivered a punch to the right lower jaw area,” said Mr Moore. “The punch took him off his feet. He went to the ground.

“There was contact between his head and the pavement.”

Mr Howarth’s head was wedged between a car tyre and the kerb.

Paramedics arrived and took Mr Howarth to hospital in Margate. He was placed on a life support machine but never regained consciousness.

Cable denies manslaughter. The trial continues.