A CONVICTED paedophile was beaten to death by one of his childhood victims in a chance meeting, a murder trial has heard.

John Mathers suffered catastrophic injuries in an attack at his home in Middlesbrough and died in hospital more than six weeks later, a court was told.

Married father-of-five Kevin Caddick admits killing the grandfather, but denies his murder - claiming it was on the grounds of diminished responsibility or loss of control.

Caddick, 35, was abused by Mathers - formerly known as Harry Oldfield - at least four times between 1986 and 1987 when he was five or six, the jury heard.

Prosecutor Mark Guiliani told the panel of seven men and five women at Teesside Crown Court that Mathers was Caddick's uncle, and 17 years his senior.

Mr Guiliani described the November fist and foot attack as "vicious and unnecessary", and said: "It is the Crown's case that the motive was revenge."

The court heard how 51-year-old Mathers was punched in the face, fell to the floor and was kicked in the head as his mother shouted: "Leave him."

He suffered a fractured jaw and ribs and a brain bleed, and was put into intensive care after surgery, but never regained consciousness, said Mr Guiliani.

Caddick, of Carisbrooke Avenue, Middlesbrough, disputes going to the house in nearby Fulbeck Road, to assault his uncle.

He told police he was in the area to visit his daughter, cut through the Netherfields estate, and coincidentally saw Mathers staring from a window.

He says he had not seen his uncle since 2012 - a year before he was jailed for the abuse - and it caused painful memories to come back, the court heard.

He went into the house and is said to have asked "Why did you do that to me when I was a kid?" before launching the ten-minute assault on November 12.

The jury heard after his arrest, Caddick told police - who had been waiting for him at his home: "I've batted him all over, he deserved it. I hope he's dead."