A teenager charged with murdering a hospital worker has admitted 59 burglaries in three years, a jury was told.

After his arrest on suspicion of killing Tarquin Turner, the 17-year-old - who cannot be named because of his age - pointed out to police houses he had burgled during his crime spree.

He confessed to the jury that he was a "burglar and a thief" but denied murdering Mr Turner on the grounds of Undercliffe Cricket Club.

Graham Hyland QC, appearing for the teenager's co-accused, William Charlton, put it to him that: "It goes without saying that you are a thoroughly dishonest young man."

"In a way I am. Yes, you could say that," the teenager replied.

Bradford Crown Court has heard how Mr Turner, 31, of Eccleshill, was beaten to death with two fence posts and robbed of his wallet, a mobile phone and some cash last October.

The teenager told the court it was Charlton - who admits manslaughter but denies murder - who broke off two pieces of fence on Intake Road just outside the ground.

He said he had no idea that he was going to use them to hit Mr Turner. He thought they would merely be used to threaten him.

When asked by Mr Hyland why he thought Charlton was kicking the fence, he replied: "I don't know what I was thinking."

Mr Hyland: "Did it cross your mind that he was kicking the fence posts to use as implements in the course of a robbery?"

Teenager: "I only knew he was bent on robbery when he started going up to Mr Turner with the posts."

He also told the court he had felt sorry for Mr Turner and that he was "hurting inside". He said he checked for a pulse on Mr Turner's neck and when he could not find one he checked to see if he was breathing.

Mr Hyland: "Having detected no pulse, having seen his facial condition and noticed that he was breathing with difficulty, you rifled through his pockets. Were you feeling sorry for him then?"

Teenager: "I did not know then he was going to die."

The court was told that after stealing the mobile phone he made two prank calls to former girlfriends.

Alistair MacDonald QC, prosecuting asked him if he was hurting inside then.

"In a way I was," he said.

Earlier, Charlton, 21, of Foston Lane, Fagley, had told the court it was a robbery that went wrong. He admitted he hit Mr Turner once but had no intention of killing him.

The trial continues.