A man accused of murdering a Chatham dad by kicking him to death has previously been convicted of stamping on someone’s head, a court heard.

William Fleming, 26, is currently on trial at Canterbury Crown Court accused of killing Michael Tierney in Chatham earlier this year.

He and his cousin, George French, 39, deny murder, but French, of Ansell Avenue, Chatham, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the 33-year-old.

French is accused of beating Mr Tierney with a pick-axe handle.

Earlier this week, Fleming, of White Road, Chatham, gave evidence in the dock when it was revealed he has several other convictions for assault.

The jury was told that in March 2007, Fleming had punched a complete stranger who had come to his home and was convicted for battery.

Three months later he attacked another stranger after leaving a nightclub, hitting him over the head with a bottle. Again he was convicted of assault.

"They all stamped on the victim’s head more than once (a good couple of times each) and his body was not moving at all" - statement read to court

And in March 2009, Fleming was one of five men travelling at speed in a car and almost hitting a man crossing the road.

The vehicle was stopped and Fleming admitted punching the victim to the ground.

In a statement – agreed by prosecution and defence lawyers – the details added: "They all stamped on the victim’s head more than once (a good couple of times each) and his body was not moving at all.

"The five males drove off leaving the victim unconscious."

Fleming, who later pleaded guilty to the assault, told the jury he admitted punching the man but denied stamping on the victim.

It was also revealed this week, a pair of Nike Air Max 90 Essential trainers, which he was said to be wearing on the night Mr Tierney was attacked, were produced unexpectedly as evidence.

The jury were told they came from a batch left during the refurbishment of a sports shop.

Fleming, was giving evidence for the second day at the court and faced cross-examination about the trainers.

He told the jury he and two others had been working at the Brighton store and said he was told he could dispose of a job lot of 93 pairs of Nike trainers which had been left in the store.

He said he sold some on Facebook and kept just two pairs, one, a pair of Black Nikes for himself and another for his partner Kelly Wicker.

Fleming, of White Road, Chatham, said he “just forgot” to tell police where they were when he was questioned and only realised their significance a few days ago.

He said the trainers had been brought to prison along with clothes which he then wore.

The prosecution has alleged that he and his “uncle” French launched an attack on Mr Tierney near his Chatham home.

French, pictured here, claimed his nephew told him during a conversation in prison that he had “disposed” of the trainers.

But part-way through his evidence, Fleming produced the trainers claiming he had been wearing them during his five months on remand awaiting trial.

He told the jury that French had lied about the jail conversation, saying: “I never said that. That is definitely not true. There had been no conversation about the trainers. That was a lie.”

But under cross-examination from French’s barrister, Carolina Guiloff, he said he had not asked anyone to examine the trainers.

He admitted that Mr Tierney’s blood had been found on his trousers and on a plastic bag that he had been carrying when he became involved in the fight.

Fleming claimed French asked him for help and he kicked Mr Tierney twice on the shoulder. But he denied claims he had stamped and kicked Mr Tierney in the face.

He told the jury: “I can’t tell you where the blood on my trousers and carrier bag had come from. If I could explain it I would.”

The trial continues.