A man left wheelchair-bound after he was set on fire and left to die has denied he got into a drunken row with the man accused of attacking him.

John Maynard, 37, needed to have both legs amputated after he suffered horrific burns when he was turned into a human fireball at his home.

Wayne Barnes, for whom Mr Maynard acted as best man at his wedding weeks before the attack, is accused of trying to murder him, before fleeing to Oxford.

Today, Mr Maynard told Hove Crown Court he had returned to his flat in Littlehampton, Sussex, on October 28 after a night out.

He said he had told Barnes he could not stay at his flat, but later that night, Barnes turned up and attacked him, while demanding money.

Philip Wakeham, defending, asked Mr Maynard if an argument had developed into a drunken fight, but Mr Maynard said he had woken to find Barnes there.

He also denied the defence claim that he had suggested Barnes's wife, Melissa, pay off a debt by having sex with him.

The prosecution alleges Barnes attacked Mr Maynard, then stole £30,000, his passport and car and fled to Oxford.

He was known to originate from the city and Thames Valley Police arrested him as he left a note at a friend's home to say he was "in trouble".

Barnes, 27, of Durrington, in Worthing, denies a charge of attempted murder but has admitted burglary, theft and fraud.

The case continues.