Sheldon Flaninghan's death: Friend 'knew defendant was bad news'

Sheldon Flanighan had been friends with Wayne Common for 25 years

The friend of an off-duty ambulance worker who was run over by a van outside a pub said that he sensed that the defendant was "bad news".

Sheldon Flanighan, 55, died outside the Bay Horse Inn, Cramlington, after allegedly being run over by Toby Kelly on 1 April.

Wayne Common, Mr Flanighan's friend who was also injured, said Kelly had tried to pick fights in the pub.

The 38-year-old, from Blyth, denies murder and attempted murder.

At Newcastle Crown Court, the jury heard an interview with Mr Common who said that Kelly had been in a group, who were "arguing amongst themselves".

Mr Common, who had been friends with Mr Flaninghan for 25 years, said he noticed the "strange behaviour" as he walked past Kelly in the pub.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Mr Kelly had been involved in a fight

"I said there's trouble here, mind. They were arguing amongst themselves," he said.

"There was one lad trying to crack the other lad out, which I thought was strange."

Mr Common was asked what he meant by "crack out", which he clarified was a fight.

He said members of Kelly's group "didn't give a monkey's about anyone around the bar [but] themselves".

"I can't pull one thing out about what they were doing, I just knew. I knew they were bad news."

Mr Commons had previously told officers how he was knocked into a coma by the van and suffered bruising and internal bleeding.

'Arguing'

Jurors heard that Mr Common and Mr Flaninghan had not planned on having a "big night", having had food and five or six drinks each.

Prosecutors said Mr Kelly struck Mr Flaninghan, who worked for the North East Ambulance Service, by reversing over him, before going on to strike him again by driving forwards on to his body.

The court had previously been played CCTV footage showing Mr Kelly arguing with his partner Shannon Wooden, before they both fell to the floor.

Mr Kelly was then seen dragging her out of the pub and into the car park, before Mr Flanighan and Mr Common went outside in an apparent bid to bring the situation under control.

Following the attack, the van was pursued by a police car and later discovered nearby.

The court heard that Ms Wooden and Mr Fairclough are facing no charges and the jury has been told to focus only on Mr Kelly, of Wansbeck Avenue.

The trial continues.