He also spoke of his grim determination to survive for the sake of his two sons, on the opening day of the trial of Wayne Barnes, who is charged with attempting to murder Mr Maynard.

Nine months later, Mr Maynard could not bring himself to even name the defendant as he began to give his evidence, pointing to Barnes in the dock and describing him as "that man over there".

Mr Maynard told the jury how he had been awakened as he slept on the floor of his flat in Pier Road, Littlehampton, by Barnes screaming at him to give him money.

He was still waking up and trying to work out what was happening when the defendant first hit him on the forehead, then came an even harder blow on the top of his head and a third on the back of his skull.

Thinking of sons

"It was enough to know I was in big trouble. I couldn't move. I
couldn't do anything."

Asked by Mr Barton what was going through his mind, Mr Maynard replied: "I was thinking of my boys. . . I thought I was going to die. I thought I was dead, or very close to it."

He added: "I was determined to say goodbye to my boys. I was trying to stay alive and wanted to speak to them."

The court heard the two men had been friends and Mr Maynard had been best man at Barnes' wedding just eight weeks earlier, paying towards the cost, giving the couple money as a present and helping to furnish their home.

Mr Barton asked if Mr Maynard had done anything to provoke the attack. He replied: "I went to sleep, didn't I? If that's what caused this, I don't think it's fair.

"I have helped that man for one and a half years. His whole home is full of stuff I have given him from jobs."

The case continues.

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