A TEENAGER accused of murder confessed the killing to a probation officer, a court heard yesterday.

Beatrice Smith, a probation service officer working at Castington Young Offenders Institution, in Northumberland, where Kevin Littlewood was being held on remand last February, told a jury at Teesside Crown Court that the 18-year-old admitted being involved in the death of John Paul Jeffries.

The body of Mr Jeffries, of Lowthian Road, Hartlepool, was found by fishermen at Skeleton Pier, at Hartlepool Marina, in January, wedged between sea defence rocks. He had been beaten to death.

Mr Jeffries, 18, had been missing from his home for six days.

Mr Littlewood, of St Paul's Road, Hartlepool, denies murdering Mr Jeffries. He also denies the theft of a video recorder and CD player belonging to Mr Jeffries' father.

Mrs Smith said she had talked to Mr Littlewood on his first day at the institution and during their conversation he said Mr Jeffries had been "killed straight away".

She said: "He said he had a fight with the deceased, John Jeffries, who was 18 and had been found on the rocks in Hartlepool.

"He went on to say 'All I'm admitting to is giving the lad a good hiding. Hit him with a brick. Aye, A (sic) killed him."

David Lane QC, for Mr Littlewood, said the teenager had not slept the night before this conversation.

He said: "I suggest he never said 'Aye, A killed him".

Mr Lane said that, in the same 24 hours, there were three occasions when Mr Littlewood tried to inflict self-harm, including an attempt to hang himself.

The case continues.