A gang of Triads battered a Carshalton drug addict to death with a vase, an Old Bailey jury has been told.

Yuxiang Liu, 25, Chou Wei Leong, 21, along with Ryan Parker-Saunders, 23, of West Norwood, and Jerome Castrillo, 18, murdered Michael McGrath after he helped himself to £800 worth of drugs, jurors were told yesterday.

When he unlocked his door, the gang allegedly pounced on the terrified man, punching and kicking him to the floor.

The court heard Parker-Saunders, from Thurlby Road, grabbed a vase and smashed it over the victim’s head 11 times before the men fled, leaving Mr McGrath for dead in a pool of blood, The killers left behind incriminating Chinese cigarette butts which were linked to them by DNA.

Crispin Aylett, prosecuting, told the jury that Mr McGrath, a 57-year-old drug addict, had allowed members of the gang to hide drugs at his home.

But his cravings got the better of him and he soon began helping himself to the crack cocaine and heroin he was looking after for a branch of the Triads known as the Wo Shing Wo.

“He was, you may think, playing a very dangerous game,” said prosecutor Crispin Aylett.

Mr Aylett continued: “Mr McGrath told a friend that if anybody found out he was still taking the drugs, he would tell them a fox must have got to them.

“When the dealers found out that more of the drugs had gone, they did not wait to hear his far-fetched explanation about foxes. He would have to be taught a lesson.

“Not only would he have to be punished, he would also have to be made an example of.”

On November 28 last year, the men went to Mr McGrath’s flat in and let themselves in using Parker-Saunders’ key.

“Parker-Saunders picked up a vase and hit Mr McGrath over the head with it repeatedly. “Fragments from the vase were later found embedded in his skull.

“Mr McGrath had sustained head injuries from which he died. His body was found by a friend the following morning.”

The court heard that Liu, the manager of China City restaurant in Chinatown, was a senior member of the Triads and came to the UK from China in 1999.

It is alleged that Castrillo was recruited to the join the gang by sixth formers at his school in Edmonton, north London, who promised the naive youngster invites to parties.

Mr Aylett told the court that Castrillo, who was studying for his A-levels at the time of the killing, was introduced to Liu above his restaurant.

When he was arrested, police found online records of conversations on his computer talking about his involvement with the Triads.

Mr Aylett said one conversation to a friend read: “It ain’t some little street gang, it’s organised s***. Wo Shing Wo f*** up everyone they get into beef with.”

All four deny murder. The trial continues.