An ex-boyfriend of a girl accused of killing a gay man in a homophobic attack told the Old Bailey she was too scared to go to the police following the incident.

Ian Baynham, 62, from Beckenham, was attacked in front of horrified onlookers in London's busy Trafalgar Square on September 25 last year.

He was rushed to the Royal London Hospital but died 18 days later on October 13.

Joel Alexander, 19, of Thornton Heath, Rachel Burke, 18, formerly of Upper Norwood, and Ruby Thomas, 18, who used to live in Crystal Palace, are accused of Mr Baynham's manslaughter and violent disorder.

Burke is also charged with causing actual bodily harm.

They have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Declan Seavers, 24, had been going out with Ruby Thomas, 18, for 18 months at the time of the attack.

Mr Seavers had arranged to meet Miss Thomas in the South Bank area on September 25 last year, the night she is accused of killing Ian Baynham in the alleged homophobic attack.

According to Mr Seavers, Miss Thomas failed to meet him in the pre-arranged spot, instead meeting him at his brothers Blackfriars flat. Mr Seavers said: “She was beaten black and blue, she had two black eyes and a bruised cheek.

“She said she had got beaten up by some black boys on the way to meet me.”

In his statement made to the police on October 16 he said that Miss Thomas called him and told him about the attack, the court heard.

He recalled her saying: “Listen baby, I swear to god I didn't touch him, the papers have got it all wrong.”

He also said in his statement that Miss Thomas admitted to starting the argument with the man and one of the boys she was with had hit him, something she said she only found out about afterwards.

However, he denied saying this in his statement claiming he made it under duress.

Mr Seavers said: “I encouraged her to go to the police but she said she couldn't do it. She was scared.”

He said after being with her for 18 months he knew when she was lying and believed she hadn't hit Mr Baynham while he was on the ground.

Mr Seavers said: “She is not that kind of girl, none of them are.”

The trial continues.