Sex offender killed after 'propositioning friend'

A registered sex offender was killed after making advances towards a friend as they watched television together, a jury was told.

Luton Crown Court heard how Sukhjinder Singh-Gill, 57, was found with a cord around his neck and hands at his home last November - with police initially believing he had taken his own life.

Nathaniel Sereaton told the trial he got angry after Mr Singh-Gill offered him money for sex, but had never intended to harm him.

The 42-year-old, of Milliners Court, Luton, denies murder.

Mr Sereaton told the trial on Tuesday how he had known Mr Singh-Gill for many years and saw him regularly.

He said the two men were watching television at Mr Singh-Gill's home in Althorp Road, Luton, when "the atmosphere changed".

Mr Sereaton said he "laughed off his proposal" and "carried on watching TV", but when Mr Singh-Gill began making advances, he "thought he was going to try it on with me".

He said he "stood up and grabbed him around the neck", "trying to stop him doing what he was doing".

He said he realised that Mr Singh-Gill was "not moving at all" and "panicked".

Mr Sereaton said he tried to make it appear that Mr Singh-Gill had "killed himself".

Richard Christie KC, prosecuting, had earlier told jurors how Mr Singh-Gill's body was found at home by a builder.

Police initially thought he had committed suicide, he said, but further investigation revealed he had been strangled.

Mr Christie said a neighbour had seen a man matching Mr Sereaton's description visiting the bedsit, and that the defendant had tried to sell Mr Singh-Gill's phone.

Mr Sereaton was "extremely muscly" and had been involved in martial arts, he said.

The prosecutor said Mr Singh-Gill had a history of sex offending dating back to the early 1980s and listed indecent assaults on males and females.

Mr Singh-Gill had been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register in 2002, he said. and was being supervised until his death.

Jurors also heard that Mr Sereaton had a history of offending, of mental health difficulties and drug-taking, as well as convictions dating back to 2001 - including robbery, burglary and a drug supply offence.

Judge John Hillen told jurors the trial was likely to end later this week.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.