Julian Gardner died as he tried to protect his farm

Six men from Kent crushed a businessman to death as he tried to protect his farm during a raid, a court heard today.

Julian Gardner was killed after interupting a gang of professional burglars as they ransacked his property, jurors were told.

It was said the 52-year-old was crushed between a Jeep Cherokee and the victim's own Land Rover, or one of them and a water bowser.

Mr Gardner's injuries were so catastrophic he stood "no chance of survival" and it must have been clear to those responsible that he was badly injured, jurors heard.

Terrence Bristow, 41, of Chart Road, Great Chart, near Ashford; Marcus Bristow, 32, of Mock Lane, Great Chart; Lee Delay, 23, of Whitegate Close, Tunbridge Wells; Christopher Leek, 30, of Pear Tree Close, Cranbrook; Paul Dunn, 33, of Fryth Crescent, Cranbrook; and Oliver Payne, of Sandhurst Road, Tunbridge Wells, deny manslaughter.

The six men also face charges of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

A seventh man, Terrence Dunn, 57, of Tanyards Estate, Sandhurst, denies conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Christine Laing QC, prosecuting at Lewes Crown Court, said it was unclear which of the six defendants charged with manslaughter was driving the vehicles when Mr Gardner was killed - but that it did not matter.

Mr Garden was woken just after midnight on October 11, 2010 after intruders entered the land where he ran a car repair workshop near Robertsbridge, East Sussex.

The victim, who was a member of a shooting club, picked up one of his shotguns from his converted barn before setting off "to protect his hard-earned property", jurors heard.

Ms Laing said the decision would go on to cost him his life.

She said: "The principle events took place just after midnight on October 11, 2010 and in the following hours. The target crime was a car repair workshop at Bush Barn Farm near Robertsbridge.

"In the course of a planned, professional burglary of those premises, we say by the first six defendants, the owner, Julian Gardner, attempted to stop them and was unlawfully killed.

"It would have been clear to anyone that Julian Gardner was at the very least seriously injured by the time they left and therefore a criminal investigation was started.

"Thereafter all seven defendants were involved in an attempt to pervert the course of justice by destroying the evidence linking them to these offences."

The trial continues.