A friend of a man stabbed to death tried to warn him against attempting to steal drugs from two alleged dealers, a court heard on Monday.

Warren Ricardo Blake, 18, and Tevin Birmingham, 21, allegedly stabbed Andrew McGowan to death at a Great Yarmouth flat used for drug dealing.

The prosecution at Norwich Crown Court said that violence flared after Mr McGowan turned up at the flat in Dickens Road, with a hammer, in the hope of stealing drugs from Birmingham and Blake.

Mr McGowan suffered five stab wounds including a fatal one to his heart.

Blake of Thorncliffe Road, London, and Birmingham, of William Kett Close, Norwich, both deny murder and supply of cocaine.

Giving evidence, Ricky Van Hooser told how he and Mr McGowan were both staying at a friend's house in Yarmouth.

He said that on the day of the stabbing he and Mr McGowan had stolen drugs from a Liverpool dealer but had not had to use any violence. 'That is what happens in that game,' he said.

Mr Van Hooser said that Mr McGowan later armed himself with a hammer, which was kept hidden under the sofa, and told him he was going to Dickens Road to steal more drugs.

'I told him not to do it. He was up for it, but I told him not to do it,' Mr Van Hooser told the court.

He said that he walked some of the way with Mr McGowan but had turned back, as he did not want to get involved.

He said he then went back to the house and had fallen asleep.

He was woken in the early hours to find out his friend had been killed and was in a 'body bag'.

Also in the dock are Charlene Barber, 34, of Dickens Avenue and Kevin Wood, 45, of Nelson Road Central, Yarmouth. They both deny perverting the course of justice by delaying calling 999, allowing the men to evade immediate arrest.

The trial continues.