A man whose girlfriend was murdered in a Lancashire park for being a goth finds the world a "terrifying place", a court has heard.

Robert Maltby, 21, was beaten, kicked and stamped unconscious in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, by a gang of drunken teenagers "acting like a pack of wild animals".

A statement from Mr Maltby, read out by prosecutor Michael Shorrock QC, said: "Before all this happened I was settled into a life quite independent.

"My life was set up and I had control over everything.

"Now I have regressed to being something similar to a child.

"I really just like to think I'm now only eight-months-old.

"I'm finding the whole world a terrifying place."