A BIG Issue seller killed a teenage drug dealer in a frenzied knife attack in Ipswich, a court has heard.Norwich Crown Court heard Paul Dwyer, 31, of no fixed address, inflicted 18 stab wounds to the neck of 19-year-old Peter Brown in October last year.

A BIG Issue seller killed a teenage drug dealer in a frenzied knife attack in Ipswich, a court has heard.

Norwich Crown Court heard Paul Dwyer, 31, of no fixed address, inflicted 18 stab wounds to the neck of 19-year-old Peter Brown in October last year.

Dwyer denies killing Mr Brown and leaving him in a Parkwood flat, in Henley Road.

Elizabeth Marsh QC, prosecuting, said police went to the flat on October 26 where they found Mr Brown lying in a pool of his own blood.

Mrs Marsh also told the court Dwyer, who funded his heroin and crack cocaine addiction by selling the Big Issue in Ipswich town centre, stole Mr Brown's bag after killing him, containing his mobile phone and about £600 in cash. She said Dwyer drove around Ipswich in Mr Brown's white Vauxhall Cavalier, picking up another regular drug user during the day.

Mrs Marsh told the court the Cavalier was chased by a Ford Fiesta containing three young black men. They beeped the car horn and flashed lights before forcing the Cavalier off the road.

Dwyer was then attacked, suffering stab wounds in the process. It was at Ipswich Hospital where he was arrested two days later.

Mrs Marsh told the court Dwyer spent many evenings at the flat of his on-off girlfriend Tara Smith in Ipswich.

She said on the morning of October 25 Miss Smith was getting ready for a shift at the Cricketers pub when she heard noises coming from the living room of her flat.

She heard a cry of "Help me" and emerged into the living room to find Mr Brown on top of Dwyer. She pulled Mr Brown off and ordered both men to leave the flat, warning them she was going to call the police.

During her shift at the pub Miss Smith was approached by Dwyer who asked for her flat keys so he could clean the place up.

It was only when she was unable to contact Dwyer to gain access to her flat that the police were called.

Mrs Marsh said during police interviews Dwyer accused Mr Brown of pulling a knife during an argument over drug debts.

She said Dwyer told officers he had grabbed hold of the knife at some point during the scuffle but could not remember stabbing Mr Brown in the neck.

Dwyer told the police he was horrified when he looked down to see Mr Brown gurgling and blood oozing out of his neck.

Mrs Marsh said Dwyer then took a massive amount of drugs and woke up some hours later on the bathroom floor with limited memories of the events.

The case continues.