A jury has retired to consider verdicts in the trial of two men accused of murdering a Pokemon Go enthusiast.

Carl Gregory was allegedly put in a “choke hold” and strangled after he insulted his ex-girlfriend on a social networking site.

He had posted an offensive picture relating to Chloe Lemare on Facebook and called her a slag, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

She told her friend Christopher Pollard and a “heated exchange of words” began between him and 20-year-old Mr Gregory.

The pair eventually arranged to meet in a car park outside Hobbycraft at Westwood Cross, Broadstairs, on the evening of October 4 last year.

Pollard, 20, took his friend John Dickson, 27, with him and they ended up making a joint attack on Mr Gregory, it was alleged.

Prosecutor Philippa McAtasney QC said Pollard kicked the victim with steel cap boots and Dickson held him in a choke hold, which led to his death.

Dickson, of Northdown Road, Cliftonville, and Pollard, of Brimstone Hill, Meopham, denied murder.

Miss McAtasney told the jury of eight women and four men: “The prosecution case is that both these defendants murdered Carl Gregory.

“It is the prosecution case that in the course of the attack Carl Gregory was placed in a choke hold and asphyxiated for such a period of time that he became unconscious and sadly died.

“Since their arrest and detention both defendants have sought to absolve themselves of responsibility or shift the blame to the other for Carl Gregory’s death.

“The prosecution say both these defendants committed the crime together.”

Mr Gregory, from Ramsgate, had been diagnosed with ADHD at a young age. He was said to enjoy computer games, music and football.

He met Miss Lemare about 18 months before his death. The relationship ended in August last year but they remained in contact and played Pokemon Go together.

Pollard lived with his girlfriend and a month before the alleged attack Dickson moved in with them. Dickson was head gardener at Tudor House museum in the town and Pollard also worked there.

Last week, Pollard claimed in evidence his best friend Dickson was responsible for killing Mr Gregory.

"I was scared of John at the time. John was really, really cold. I did actually beg him to stop. His exact words were: 'It's done, come on let's go'" - Christopher Pollard

He said Mr Gregory was struggling to breathe and became unconscious after Dickson put him in a “headlock”.

He said he saw Dickson twice holding 20-year-old Carl Gregory around the throat as they clashed in the car park.

The first time, he said, Dickson had his arm around Mr Gregory’s neck for about a minute.

They continued to struggle and Dickson, 27, “resumed the headlock”, said Pollard.

“Carl was struggling to breathe,” he told a jury. “I told John to let go. I did beg him to stop. He didn’t respond to me at all.

“It seemed to go on forever. It just felt like it was going on and on. He gave up struggling entirely. He was unconscious. John didn’t let go for quite a while after that.

“Carl stopped moving and John let go slowly. I checked his pulse because he was unconscious. I wanted to make sure he was OK.

“I couldn’t feel a pulse. John stepped over and grabbed me and pulled me away. John kept saying: ‘It’s done.’”

Pollard said in evidence he met Dickson while they doing volunteer work at medieval Tudor House in Margate. “He was someone I could trust and confide in,” he said.

His messages to Mr Gregory were meant to scare him, he admitted. He claimed he was not going to Westwood Cross to fight with him.

Asked by his QC Jonathan Higgs why he did not “back off”, he replied: “There were quite a few factors. I didn’t want to look like I would not be true to my words, either to Carl or John.

“The least I could do is go and meet him there. If I hadn’t gone it would have made me look weak in front of John.”

Pollard said when he arrived at the car park he pointed to Dickson and told Mr Gregory: “Don’t worry about him, he’s not getting involved.”

He asked Mr Gregory if he was sure he “wanted to do this” and added: “You should have just left her alone.”

“He was considerably bigger than me,” he continued. “I used my right foot to kick him in his right thigh.”

Pollard agreed he was the first to use force. He said they ended up in “a scrumming session”. Mr Gregory bit him on a finger.

“I bit his arm,” he said. “He threw me on the ground. As I got up he kicked the side of my head. That’s when John got involved. I screamed out to John to help me.

“John comes over the side of the wall. All I saw was Carl and John going downwards. John had hold around his throat.”

Pollard said he kicked Mr Gregory to try to get him off Dickson. It didn’t have any effect. Dickson then resumed the “headlock”, he said.

Afterwards, Dickson stopped him from going back, he claimed. “I didn’t want to leave him like that,” he said. “I just couldn’t do it - leave someone in a vulnerable position.

“I was scared of John at the time. John was really, really cold. I did actually beg him to stop. His exact words were: ‘It’s done, come on let’s go.’”

Dickson denied putting the victim in a choke hold and said he did not see Pollard do so.