Teen says he killed gay man because he came on to him

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A Lincolnshire teenager accused of murdering a pensioner says he lashed out because the older man came on to him.

Aiden Jackson, is accused of murdering David Cowley, 67, at Sleaford Rail Station in November last year.

Previously, the teenager could not be identified because of his age. He recently turned 18.

According to the prosecution, Mr Jackson was driven by the older man to a remote spot at Ballast Pits off Mareham Lane. Mr Cowley is said to have offered him money for sex.

The teenager is said to have dragged Mr Cowley from his car before kicking and punching him. The older man was then suffocated and left face down in water.

The Lincolnshire Echo reports that Mr Jackson told Lincoln crown court that Mr Cowley had offered him money for sex the previous evening, which “shocked” him.

But he admitted going to meet the older man the next day to be driven to the remote spot.

He said Mr Cowley asked him if he would do anything sexual and he replied that he was not gay.

He said: “He started talking and that’s when he came on to me. He put his hand in my trousers. I pushed him with both hands. Quite hard.”

Mr Jackson said Mr Cowley fell to the floor and was unable to get up. He said he tried to put him the car boot but the lid would not shut, so he took him out.

The teenager claims he drove home and had a bath before returning to the scene with a friend who he claims told him to stand on the victim’s throat.

He claims he did and that the other boy stamped on the victim several times.

He said: “I didn’t want him to die. I was scared. I didn’t want to hurt him. I wasn’t thinking properly.”

The prosecution says Mr Jackson acted alone. A 17-year-old boy has been cleared of perverting the course of justice.