A man charged with murder, who thought Hollywood film star Jean Claude Van Damme was his cousin, has been declared unfit to stand trial.

Anthony James Kirk - known as Tony - of Threshfield Gardens, Allerton, appeared at Leeds Crown Court yesterday charged with the murder of George Terence Bowler.

Defence barrister Rodney Jameson told the jury that on September 19 last year, 39-year-old Mr Bowler, of Stoneacre Court, West Bowling, was found dead in the grounds of Rhodesway Upper School in Bradford. He had been strangled.

He said that at 11.30pm the same evening, Kirk, 25, presented himself at Bradford Central Police Station and told them he had killed Mr Bowler.

Mr Jameson said Kirk was interviewed by consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Peter Wood.

Dr Wood told the jury how Kirk had had an unfortunate childhood which included five years of serious sexual abuse, and had suffered a brain injury following a car crash in 1991.

He concluded that Kirk was suffering a psychopathic disorder and delusions.

A psychiatrist for the prosecution, Dr Adrian Berry said Kirk believed "with absolute conviction" that he was related to Jean Claude Van Damme, that he had met popstar Kylie Minogue and that TV personality and top model Melinda Messenger had winked at him.

"He became hostile when these beliefs were challenged," said Dr Berry, who concluded that Kirk had a psychotic mental illness.

A second psychiatrist for the defence, Dr Keith Rix, said Kirk had told him that Jean Claude Van Damme was to be a witness at his trial and that he would build a petrol-powered submarine to cross the Atlantic and visit him.

The honourable judge, Sir Harry Ognall, told the jury it was a "sad and distressing case" for the families of the defendant and the deceased.

The jury of eight men and four women took ten minutes to come up with their decision.

A separate jury was today due to decide whether Kirk did kill Mr Bowler.