One of the men accused of murdering Chatham dad Michael Tierney today told a jury of his shame – after striking out with a pick axe handle.

Father-of-three George French admitted hitting his victim on the nose with the implement and twice on the back during a violent struggle.

He told the jury at Canterbury Crown Court: “Words cannot describe how I feel..I feel shame and I have to live with it for the rest of my life. I shouldn’t have done it.”

Mr Tierney died from his injuries near his home in Glencoe Road in June.

French, a 39-year-old joiner, of Ansell Avenue has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the 33-year-old dad of two.

But he and his cousin, William Fleming, 26, of White Road, Chatham have both denied murder.

The prosecution has alleged the two men launched an attack on Mr Tierney after an incident when a gate was smashed.

French told the jury he had been drinking beer and vodka at a BBQ party that day to celebrate his birthday.

He and another pal then went to a store where both were abusive to staff and were asked to leave.

The two then made their way to an alleyway where Mr Tierney had built a gate to prevent fly-tipping.

French said he could remember little of the evening until he heard Mr Tierney shouting at him after arming himself with what French thought was a piece of wood.

As the flip-flop wearing French ran up Magpie Hall Road he glanced behind and saw he was being chased up a hill.

Six foot French told the jury that at the time he weighed 19 stones and realised he was being outpaced by Mr Tierney.

"He was like a man on a mission and he just wouldn't stop running.

“Mr Tierney was coming at me at speed . He was shouting at me. The man clearly wanted to attack me and I feared for my safety," he said.

French claimed that as he turned, Mr Tierney struck him on the forearm with the pick-axe handle and the two then began struggling.

“I had both hands on the bat and Michael did as well. We were grappling and we fell to the ground.”

It was then that French – dressed in a dark suit – was allowed to leave the witness box to demonstrated to the jury what happened next.

“I was trying to get it off him and then butted him on the nose with the bat. I was just scared. I panicked.”

He claimed it was then that he saw Fleming deliver kicks and a stamp on Mr Tierney, which made him lose grip of the weapon.

“I was shocked and looked up to see Mr Fleming. I saw Mr Tierney sitting there and I momentarily lost control.

“I struck him twice on the back. It was like a light had gone out in my head and then it was switched back on and I realised what I had done and threw the handle over a hedge. It was instinctive.

“I just wanted it all to stop. I didn’t want to be attacked with the handle again, “ he added.

After the incident, French went to a nearby flat where he asked a friend to wash his blood-stained T shirt.

He was asked why he hadn’t called the police and told the jury: “I wasn’t thinking straight. I just panicked. I wish I had done it now. Everything happened so quickly.”

French then went to a caravan he owns in Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppey and onto Norfolk where he said he was later told of Mr Tierney’s death by a relative.

“I had gone away to bury my head in the sand. But then I was told Michael Tierney had sadly passed away. That was devastating news.

“I should have gone to the police sooner but now a man had lost his life. It was time to do the right thing, “ he added.

French returned to Kent and gave himself up to police but refused to answer detectives' questions "on the advice of my lawyer". He later handed in a prepared statement to officers.

The trial continues.