A 23-year-old-man stabbed his best friend to death because he believed he was having sex with his girlfriend, a Court heard today.

Richard Sykes appeared at Bradford Crown Court charged with murder, which he denied. But he has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of James Cade, 20, on May 3 last year.

The court heard that Sykes, of Landscove Avenue, Holme Wood, and Mr Cade, of Holme Wood, were childhood friends and both had problems with drink and drugs.

The jury was told that both men suspected each other of sleeping with their girlfriends.

Prosecuting barrister Jennifer Kershaw QC, said: "These two had known each other since childhood and they had been friends for years. They have also had their fall outs.

"They had fallen out shortly before May last year when each had suspected the other of having sex with their girlfriends. They also had in common the use of drugs. Mr Cade took heroin and was addicted, Sykes had been addicted but in May had been prescribed methodone, prozac and anti-depressants."

Mrs Kershaw told the jury that Sykes was recovering from his heroin addiction but also used cannabis and was a heavy drinker.

The day before his death, Mr Cade had spent the afternoon drinking with his girlfriend, Dawn Abrahams, before leaving to buy some heroin. He then went to the home of Sykes' girlfriend Sharon Gallagher in Holme Wood. Sykes also returned to his girlfriend's house and they both fell asleep.

Mrs Kershaw said: "Sharon and her friend went to the shop at about 9.30pm, leaving both Sykes and Mr Cade in the house.

"They were now both awake and talking. It appears that Cade left as well and met Sharon who persuaded him to go back to the house.

"He walked into the kitchen and Sykes must have had in his hand the knife he used to stab James Cade with.

"Mr Cade had not long been in the kitchen when he made a remark about Sykes being tooled up.

"Sykes lunged across the kitchen and stabbed him in the left lower side of the abdomen. Mr Cade stumbled out of the kitchen and out on to the garden path where he collapsed."

Mrs Kershaw told the court that Sykes fled to his grandmother's home and told her that he had stabbed his "best mate".

The court heard that Sykes' mother arrived and that they persuaded him to go back to Sharon's house. When he arrived the police were there and Sykes tried to run off but they arrested him.

Mrs Kershaw told the court that the injuries sustained were a stab wound through the bowel and into the aorta.

The trial continues.

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