A MAN and woman are facing life imprisonment for the murder of Bradford man Stephen Kershaw whose body was found at an address in East Bierley in September last year.

In a dramatic twist at Bradford Crown Court this afternoon, the jury sworn in try Sarah Pearson was discharged ahead of her changing her plea to guilty.

She had denied murdering Mr Kershaw, 65, at Shetcliffe Lane between September 11 and 17 last year.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A large police presence at the scene in Shetcliffe LaneA large police presence at the scene in Shetcliffe Lane (Image: T&A)

Pearson, 23, of Shetcliffe Lane, also admitted fraudulent use of Mr Kershaw’s bank card.

Her co-accused Ian Mitchell, 35, also of Shetcliffe Lane, had pleaded guilty to the murder ahead of the trial date.

Now both will be sentenced at the court on Monday, November 6.

Following Pearson’s change of plea, her barrister Stephen Wood KC said she understood what she had pleaded guilty to and that she would receive a mandatory life sentence.

But she was 23 and had never been in custody before her remand into prison after the murder.

Mr Wood asked for an adjournment for the preparation of a report from the probation service.

Judge Jonathan Rose agreed, saying that sentence would have to wait for Mitchell to be brought to the court building so they could be dealt with together.

Mr Wood said Pearson’s guilty plea was on the basis that she didn’t use a grab handle against the victim.

Leading counsel for the Crown, Craig Hassall KC, told the court that it wasn’t possible to say which of the two used a grab handle as a weapon.

Judge Rose said the defendants must be present at court for the half-day sentencing hearing, not on prison video links.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Victim Stephen Kershaw (left) and police investigating his murder Victim Stephen Kershaw (left) and police investigating his murder (Image: .)

He told Pearson: “There’s only one sentence and that’s life imprisonment but I must set a minimum term before you can be considered for release.”

She was remanded back into custody until then.

Judge Rose asked lawyers from both sides to find out how many family members and friends intended to come to court for the hearing so that arrangements could be made and to ensure that victim personal statements are available.

Last October, the Telegraph & Argus disclosed that Mr Kershaw was identified by his fingerprints after he was reported missing on September 13.

Police launched an appeal to find him following increasing concerns about his welfare. The investigation took a tragic turn with the discovery of a body in a bedroom alcove at Shetcliffe Lane where Mr Kershaw lived.

An inquest opening was told that he was a single gentleman with his daughter being his next of kin. Mitchell and Pearson made their first appearance before Bradford Crown Court on September 27.