DESPITE never being a Paratrooper, Mark Hartley did service in the Army in the First Battalion Scots Guards and completed an active tour of Afghanistan.

But after returning to the UK, injury and illness meant he was unable to go back overseas and he was discharged when he tested positive for cocaine.

Despite never serving in the regiment, his flat contained a maroon beret – synonymous with the Paras – and their flag. He also has a wings tattoo on his chest.

During a spell when the alcoholic wasn’t drinking, he sought help from the Royal British Legion and ended up with a flat in Colchester, despite originally hailing from the north of England.

At the time of Mr Dines’ death, Hartley accepted he was not in a good state and was drinking heavily.

He had known Mr Dines and Miller for a few months and described Miller as not a friend, but a drinking partner.

Mr Dines, who he knew as Frederick, had been to his flat a few times where they had drunk beer and eaten pizza.

He accepts he kicked Mr Dines in the arm and the face and punched him in the nose during the assaults but said he wanted to leave him alone before Miller started the brutal assault biting his ear, injuring his genitals and stamping repeatedly on his head.

Hartley was on bail for assault and harassment and was breaking bail conditions by being out so late on the day of the attack.

He sarcastically suggested throwing the body in the river before the group left the car park, and went to raid a Tesco Express with Miller when they ran out of booze because he thought he had nothing left to lose.

He saw the forensics at the car park when the body was discovered and return to his flat to tell the others it was now “game over.”