A SERIAL killer convicted of murdering three teenagers confessed to police he had also killed a 14-year-old boy in 1990 to cover up his sexuality, but was now haunted by his crime.

Steven Grieveson, 42, denies murdering schoolboy Simon Martin at a derelict house in Sunderland in 1990, but admits killing him, claiming diminished responsibility for his actions.
A jury at Newcastle Crown Court was told today he was convicted in 1996 of murdering Thomas Kelly, 18, David Hanson and David Grieff, both 15, in 1993 and 1994. They had been strangled and their bodies burned.
In January last year, Grieveson told police he had gone to Gilside House, Roker, with Simon after they had been playing football in May 1990.
Then 19-and-a-half, Grieveson said he and the 14-year-old performed a sex act.
"After I was finished I got scared, I started shouting at him not to tell anyone," he said.
"I just flipped for a minute and I started strangling him.
"I didn't let go and the next thing, he was on the bed.
"I think there was a rock or something and I smashed his head in."
William Lowe QC, prosecuting, told the jury Grieveson took the boy's trousers and bottoms, throwing his footwear into the sea and disposing of the clothes.
Grieveson, formerly of Roker Avenue, Sunderland, later told police he had pleaded with his victim not to tell anyone about their sexual contact.
"He was saying he wouldn't tell, but for some reason I didn't believe him," the court heard.
Grieveson told police why he was confessing to killing the teenager.
"I needed to tell police, it has haunted us for 20 years," detectives were told. "I have self-harmed because of it.
"It has driven me crazy and I need to give the family peace of mind, myself as well.
"I cannot move forward unless this is said."
Mr Lowe added: "For whatever reason he strangled with his bare hands and with a ligature this 14-year-old boy and then smashed his skull.
"We said he did that with an intention to kill and that he is guilty of murder."
 

 

The Northern Echo:
KILLER: Steven Grieveson

On the evening of May 18, 1990 when he was murdered, Simon had been playing with friends at a local park and his mother Jean had asked him to be home for 6pm in time for his tea, Mr Lowe said.
The police were called at 8pm when he had not returned, and his father and older brother went out looking for him.
His body was found on May 26 by two boys who were playing in the derelict house.
Simon, 5ft 2ins and around eight stone, was naked from the waist down and lying on a mattress. Blood was splattered on the walls and he had suffered a serious head injury. Semen linked to Grieveson by DNA testing in 2000 was found on the boy's body.
Bruising to his neck was also discovered, indicating he had been strangled.
Grieveson, who worked at a local fairground, had been seen walking from the park with his victim.
Three days after the body was discovered, the killer told police they had walked to a newsagents, and when he went inside, Simon waited outside. By the time Grieveson left, his friend had disappeared.
In his confession 22 years later, Grieveson told police he was a glue-sniffer and afraid of people finding out he was bisexual, Mr Lowe said.
The jury was told the defence will put forward expert witnesses who will say the defendant, by reason of an abnormality of mind, was unable to exercise self-control, Mr Lowe said.
"The prosecution do not accept that for one minute," the barrister said, adding: "Steven Grieveson had the ability to choose whether to kill him or let him go.
"He chose to kill him and he is guilty of murder and nothing less."
The trial continues.