A SCHOOLGIRL yesterday told a jury that a man accused of murder burst into her home with a knife hours before he is alleged to have stabbed to death a father-of-six.

David Reed is said to have been looking for another man when - along with others - he stormed into the house in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, on October 12, last year.

A jury heard that Mr Reed is thought to have been with his brother Terry, a man known as Shaun "Wellard" Martin and Anthony Hoe - the brother of the victim.

The court was told that the four men were looking for Simon Thirwall and burst into the house while the 13-year-old was there with her mother and sister some time around 5.30pm.

It is alleged that former boxer Peter Hoe was stabbed to death in his home in nearby Eston some time around 9pm the same day by David Reed, 29, and his brother Terry, 26.

The jury at Teesside Crown Court has heard that the older of the Reed brothers had a fixation with renowned hard-man Mr Hoe and sought fights with him to try to replace him as the neighbourhood's toughest character.

Mr Hoe's mother, Maureen, also gave evidence yesterday and told the court that her 43-year-old son had confided in her about problems he was having with the brothers.

Mrs Hoe broke down in tears as she spoke of the last time she saw her son alive - as she waved him off from her home shortly before 9pm on the night of his death.

Mr Hoe's body was found in the blood-spattered living room of his home in Jubilee Road by a friend the following afternoon.

The brothers, of Tennyson Avenue, Grangetown, deny murder, and the trial continues.