A man has denied strangling a former hospital worker to death at his home, hours after watching this year’s Champions League Final.

Przemyslaw Lepkowski of, Thornton Avenue, Croydon, was found dead at an address in Eastbourne Road, on the Merton side of Tooting, at about 1.04am on Sunday, May 20.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate the 24-year-old Polish man at the scene and on the way to St George’s Hospital, Tooting.

Mr Lepkowski, who worked in the hospital's domestic department, spent two days in intensive care, but died of his injuries on Monday evening.

A post-mortem concluded he had been strangled.

Daniel Janik, 29, appeared at the Old Bailey yesterday, where he pleaded not guilty to murder.

He will face trial on Monday, December 10.

Mr Lepkowski’s father Wojciech, who also works at the hospital, said his son loved football and played with colleagues every Saturday in Mitcham.

After his son’s death in May, he told this newspaper: "I know every father says 'My son is the best,' but trust me he is the best. He was a very hard worker.”