A MURDER jury has heard how a killer was found hiding in a garden shed nine miles away from where a retired teacher was discovered semi-naked and unconscious in his home.

After strangling Francis Kidson and calling his family to tearfully confess, Ryan Campbell caught a 9.30pm train from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, to Northallerton.

Police were hunting the unemployed plasterer after being told what had happened and discovering battered Mr Kidson close to the foot of the stairs at his detached home.

The 85-year-old bachelor died in hospital in Middlesbrough from brain damage, four days after the attack without regaining consciousness, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Homeless Campbell, 30 - who had problems with alcohol and drugs - stayed from time to time with the pensioner at his home, and claims he was paid for sex by him.

Investigators later discovered that he had also been using Mr Kidson's bank card without his knowledge and had been hiding account statements from the elderly man.

When he arrived in Northallerton, Campbell met one of his brothers in a car park, put into a bag a ring and bracelet stolen from his victim and told him: "Look after this."

He later made a phone call to his brother, Reece, asking if he could sleep in his shed, but his plea was turned down. The jury heard he sneaked in, any way.

PC Michael Cleghorn told the court today (Thursday, April 28) that a team of officers surrounded the terraced house in Windsor Way at 3.30am and Campbell was found in the garden shed.

He said he came out when he was asked to, and "there was no trouble, he was quiet and compliant" and made no comment when he was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Campbell, whose address on court papers is Racecourse Mews, Thirsk, has accepted responsibility for the death but denies murder, claiming it was an accident.

The trial continues.