The man accused of murdering Bradford prostitute Maureen Stepan told a Court he had picked her up on the night of her death.

George Naylor said he saw Miss Stepan soliciting in Thornton Road as he left the Raging Bull pub in his car on June 8, 1995.

He denies murdering the 18-year-old at her home in Washington Street, Girlington, the same evening.

Naylor told Sheffield Crown Court he had pulled over and Miss Stepan had asked if he wanted business.

The jury was told the pair had driven to Woodland Street, off City Road, where she had attempted a sex act. Naylor said he had never seen the woman before but from descriptions given later by the police, agreed that it was Miss Stepan.

"I felt disgusted with myself afterwards," he said. "She looked a lot older before I picked her up.

"I've got a daughter. I was disgusted with myself."

Naylor said he had gone on to the Sugar Cane Nightclub off Whetley Lane and had returned home to Alma Terrace, Shipley, at 3am. When he got in he had washed the clothes he was wearing that night because they were dirty.

Naylor said he had not mentioned the encounter with Miss Stepan when first interviewed by police because he didn't want his wife knowing he had picked up a prostitute.

"I didn't want my wife finding out," he said. "It would be completely over then."

Under cross-examination, Naylor said he had picked up Miss Stepan for "a bit of love and affection".

"I couldn't get any affection at home at the time," he said.

Naylor told the court he couldn't account for blood found on the knees of his jeans.

He said he believed that the blood on the left knee was menstrual blood from his encounter with Miss Stepan, but had no explanation for blood on the right leg.

The court heard how Naylor had returned to his wife's home in the north-east the following day, June 9, 1995.

He said the pair had argued and he had taken an overdose of Tamazepam prescribed to help him sleep.

Naylor was taken to hospital and later returned to his wife's home in North Shields where he was arrested by police on June 15.

The case continues.

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