A groom turned his best man into a human fireball before fleeing with his safe containing £30,000, a court heard.

Wayne Barnes, 27, originally from Oxford, set fire to John Maynard leaving him with such horrific injuries he needed both legs amputated, it was alleged.

The attacker then fled in his victim's sports car, stealing his mobile phone to call escort agencies while on the run, a jury was told.

At Hove Crown Court yesterday, a wheelchair-bound Mr Maynard relived the horrific ordeal, referring only to "that person, I can't say his name".

Mr Maynard, a removal firm boss, said he thought he was dead after being beaten and set alight.

He told the court he was unable to move or see but could hear his attacker moving around his flat.

The father-of-two said: "I thought I was dead or very close to it.

"I was trying my best to stay alive to say goodbye to my boys."

Mr Maynard, 37, was found with horrific injuries in the flat in Littlehampton, Sussex, on October 28 last year.

It is alleged he was repeatedly battered around the head in a "savage and unprovoked" assault by his friend Barnes.

He was then torched and left for dead as Barnes allegedly fled to Oxford with the safe.

Mr Maynard's skull was severely fractured in the attack and he suffered brain damage and horrific burns.

Both his legs were amputated below the knees and he has lost most of his fingers on his left hand.

Mr Maynard said he was best man at Barnes's wedding, which was six weeks before the attack and which he had paid for.

Mr Maynard said he had allowed the defendant to stay at his flat after he had argued with his new wife and left their home in Durrington, near Worthing.

Barnes had earlier helped Mr Maynard to take some of his possessions, including his safe, to a new flat in Parkside Avenue, Littlehampton, he was moving into that weekend.

Barnes denies attempted murder , but has admitted burglary, theft, fraud and stealing Mr Maynard's car.

The trial continues.