A GENTLE giant with gambling and money problems was savagely beaten to death by a well-known Accrington snooker and pool player, Preston Crown Court was told today.

Anthony Leecy, 27, died after being attacked and subjected to a frenzied and savage beating by Danny Derbyshire, Howard Bentham QC told the murder trial jury.

According to the prosecution Mr Leecy, of Standen Road, Clitheroe, knew his killer and both men had been drinking after hours at the Starkie Arms pub, in Clitheroe town centre, shortly before the murder.

The attack took place in Mearley Brook, Clitheroe, at around 1.30am on April 1 this year. Derbyshire has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Mr Bentham told the court heard how Derbyshire, 24, of Burnley Road, Accrington, flagged down a taxi about 30 minutes after the murder.

The driver later told police he was soaking wet and paid with a sodden £10 note. Derbyshire, who was covered in mud, told the driver he had been in a fight and the man had tried to kill him. Mr Bentham said: "Anthony Leecy was a large man but was a retiring sort of chap. He was not the sort of person who provoked violence or got involved in violence.

"I suppose you could describe him as a gentle giant."

Mr Bentham added: "Mr Leecy had money problems in as much as he could not keep hold of money. He had a gambling problem but in the months before his death it seems the problem had cleared up."

The prosecution barrister went on to say the two men had been drinking together and playing pool and Derbyshire left the pub shortly after Mr Leecy.

Both men were later seen walking through Clitheroe town centre on closed circuit television.

People out walking in the town later told police they heard a sound of a fight coming from the river.

Derbyshire was arrested two days after the murder and the clothes he wore on the night of the killing were recovered from his home.

The trial is expected to last a week.

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