AN UNEMPLOYED alcoholic says he attacked a couple in their home after his attempts to blackmail them over an alleged sex attack failed.

David Kilcullen gave evidence at the Old Bailey today about the night he allegedly stabbed and killed Gerry Edwards, 59, before turning the knife on 57-year-old Chris Bevan.

Kilcullen says he was first invited into the couple’s flat in Page Heath Villas, Bickley, by Mr Edwards on March 3.

The 46-year-old claims he fell asleep in an armchair and woke to find Mr Edwards and Mr Bevan sexually assaulting him.

He said: “I was pretty relaxed - I was under the influence of alcohol.

“I fell asleep. I woke up as Mr Edwards was more or less in front of me with my penis in his mouth.

“There was another man fondling my testicles.”

Kilcullen, appearing in court wearing a white shirt, said he fled to his bedsit in The Avenue, Bickley, after he was assaulted.

There he put socks on his hands, armed himself with a knife to “frighten” the pair and returned to the couple’s home.

The court heard he then told the men he would call the police about the sexual assault unless they handed over cash.

Labourer Kilcullen said Mr Bevan refused and he was forced to reveal the knife, prompting Mr Edwards and Mr Bevan to attack him.

Kilcullen, who is 6ft 2ins tall and weighs 14stone, told the jury the injuries he inflicted were in self defence.

“I decided to go back and confront them and try to blackmail some money out of them,” he said.

“I took a knife with me.

“I knocked on the door and Mr Edwards answered and I said we need to talk, he led the way into the kitchen.

“He looked nervous.”

Kilcullen said Mr Bevan was already in the kitchen, adding: “I told them what they had done was bang out of order and if they did not give me some money I was going to go to the police.”

Kilcullen admitted he was an alcoholic for 12 years before the attack.

The court heard Kilcullen, who owed £1,500 to a housing association and utility company, said he had been drinking heavily as usual on the night of the attack.

He attempted to buy more booze from an off-licence at the end of Page Heath Villas at around 7pm on March 3 but it was closed.

Retracing his steps along the road to the bedsit, Kilcullen said he visited the home of Mr Edwards and Mr Bevan hoping to “blag” some alcohol from the couple.

He says he knew of Mr Edwards after an incident in 2003 when Kilcullen tripped over a cable outside the flat.

Kilcullen denies speaking to either Mr Edwards and Mr Bevan again until March 3.

Kilcullen said today that he first visited Mr Edwards on March 3 because he wanted alcohol as compensation for tripping on the cable.

He added: “I did not know the men at all.”

The prosecution argued Kilcullen visited Mr Edwards to rob him and was caught by surprise when Mr Bevan came to his partner’s aid.

Kilcullen denies murder and attempted murder.

The trial continues.