A gang of children aged as young as 10 stoned a father who died of a heart attack as he played cricket with his son, a court was told yesterday.

Ernest Norton, 67, collapsed after he was struck on the head by a stone the size of a half-brick. Up to seven youths pelted him with rocks and sticks after verbally abusing him and his 17-year-old son.

Five youths, now aged between 12 and 14, appeared at the Old Bailey charged with manslaughter and violent disorder.

Mr Norton and his son, James, had set up stumps in a tennis court at the Erith Leisure Centre in Bexley, southeast London, where his wife was using the gym in what was described as a normal Sunday for the family. They were coming to the end of their session when a group of youths gathered by the fence of the courts after being thrown out of the leisure centre for being “mouthy”.

Mr Norton, a retired draughtsman, was told to “Go back to the old people’s home”. One of the mob yelled, “I’m going to knock you out”, and called Mr Norton a “no-tooth c**t” while others called James a “rubbish bowler”, the court was told.

As the torrent of abuse continued, Mr Norton approached the youths and was struck by a stone on the left temple, fracturing his cheekbone. Mr Norton’s wife, Linda, returned from the gym to find him lying in a pool of blood as desperate attempts were made to save his life. He had collapsed after suffering a heart attack and, although his son and an off-duty policeman battled to resuscitate him, he died after being airlifted to hospital. Police found at least 17 stones in the tennis court and said that Mr Norton had been struck on the head by at least two.

The court was told that two of the boys spat at Mr Norton during the attack and that their DNA was matched to saliva stains on his jacket.

One witness, whose home overlooked the tennis courts, heard one of the group shout: “Oh no.” Another screamed: “He’s dead, he’s dead.” As the mob scattered, they were overheard bragging: “I got a shot” and “I got him with one”.

David Fisher, QC, for the prosecution, said: “This was a completely unnecessary, pointless and random attack by these five defendants. They are jointly responsible for this attack and jointly responsible for his death.”

Mr Fisher added: “Nobody, I hope, relishes the fact that these five boys, because that is what they are, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the serious crime of manslaughter. But, I am sure you will readily understand, youth is no defence.

“They were quite old enough to know that to abuse Ernest Norton and his son was wrong and that to throw stones and pieces of wood at them was deeply wrong.

“It was their joint course of conduct, quite probably with others, that caused his death.” He said that Mr Norton had led a “fit and active life-style” and had been in good health on the day he died. But, he added, “the stress and trauma of abuse and a physical attack would make him vulnerable to a heart attack”.

A young girl had witnessed the attack and named a boy who had thrown a large stone, the size of half a brick, which hit Mr Norton on the head. The boy and at least one other youngster at the scene were said to be part of a gang called “TNE”, short for The New Estate.

After his arrest, one of the boys told police that they were waiting for a fight involving four local gangs at a park.

The five youths, who cannot be named, deny the charges.

The trial continues.

Times Recommends

• The bright side of this winter rain
• Story behind the picture: Snow Leopard, 2008
• Times Charity Appeal: The Place2Be