A MAN accused of murdering a prostitute admitted he had been bitten by her during an altercation just moments before her death.

Shaun Tuley said Kellie Mallinson became aggressive after they had sex.

Mr Tuley, giving evidence yesterday during his trial at Teesside Crown Court, said Miss Mallinson began arguing and grabbed him, biting his arm.

The defendant said he noticed Miss Mallinson, a heroin addict, was not moving after they had sex and he left the scene believing she was lying still until he left.

Mr Tuley, 30, of Mannion Court, South Bank, Middlesbrough, denies murdering the 20-year-old prostitute, from the town's North Ormesby area, last September, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Questioned by Martin Bethel, defending Mr Tuley said he had been waiting for a taxi in Wilson Street, Middlesbrough, following a night out with a friend.

He knew the area was frequented by vice girls and had gone out of curiosity to "have a look".

Mr Tuley said he was approached by Mallinson and initially refused her persistent offers of sex, but eventually agreed.

He was led to bushes at the rear of industrial units on Middlesbrough's Cannon Park trading estate where he agreed to pay £45 for sex.

Mr Tuley said that, afterwards, Miss Mallinson had mentioned about getting a morning-after pill.

He said: "From there, she became aggressive and because I did not immediately get off her she bit my right arm.

"I lifted my left hand and put it on her chest and pulled my right arm away and then stood up to put my trousers back on.

"It was then I noticed she was not moving and was still lying on the floor."

Mr Tuley said he had not intended at any time to kill Miss Mallinson and her death was an accident.

Earlier, the trial heard from oral pathologist Dr Geoffrey Craig, of Sheffield University, who said he was "100 per cent satisfied" that marks on Mr Tuley's right arm were human bite marks.

This, the prosecution said, was a result of Miss Mallinson struggling to free herself from Mr Tuley whose DNA was also found under her nails.

The trial continues.