THE man accused of murdering Dillon Hull told police the boy's step-father John Bates was "a friend I have been brought up with all my life", a court heard yesterday. Paul Seddon, of Chorley New Road, Bolton, denies the murder of Dillon and the attempted murder of Mr Bates. Prosecutor Anthony Gee, QC, yesterday went through transcripts of six interviews Seddon had with police following his arrest on August 13, 1997.

Although answering initial questions in the first interview, the day after he was arrested, Seddon then refused to reply to any more.

At a second interview on the same day, however, Seddon confirmed he had been in the yellow Metro which was later found at the scene of Dillon's murder in Bankfield Street, Deane.

The court heard that Seddon confirmed he had bought the car from a Bolton scrapyard for £100 so he could then go and pick up his young daughter, Bethany, from his former girlfriend's house.

Asked by detectives during the interview if he had given his or any name when he bought the car, Seddon replied: "No."

During the interview Seddon claimed he had abandoned the vehicle shortly after buying it because the brakes were faulty. He said he did not return to the scrapyard to claim a refund because it had been purchased on a sold-as-seen basis.

With reference to the interview transcript the court heard that he claimed to have left the vehicle near IGW, leaving a crash helmet in the car.

In the interview Seddon told police: "I was annoyed, really annoyed, because the brakes were not working. I didn't want my daughter getting in the car."

He then alleged to interviewing officers that he had gone to his girlfriend, Leanne Knox's house before the couple then walked into Bolton town centre at about 2.30pm on August 6, 1997.

For the rest of that day and night Seddon claimed to detectives he was "always with" his girlfriend.

The court also heard that Seddon told police officers he only realised the car was missing when he saw a television news report that night.

In three further interviews Seddon refused to answer any questions put to him, including those about the yellow Metro and the crash helmet, Preston Crown Court heard.

Seddon attended a sixth interview, held at Longsight Police Station in Manchester, following an identification parade in which three people had independently picked him out.

The court heard that on being told he had been picked out in the parade Seddon claimed he had been misidentified.

Jury members also heard that when it was suggested to Seddon by officers that he was the gunman he said: "It was not me."

Earlier yesterday it was revealed that £3,905 had been recovered by police officers who searched Seddon's mother's house in Brandwood Street, Bolton, where he was arrested on August 13, 1997.

In a written statement read out in court by Mr Gee, Patricia Seddon, said she had had little to do with her son following her divorce from her husband.

She estimated that she had only seen Paul Seddon three times in 10 years. Mrs Seddon claimed that she had been staying at her daughter's house when her son was arrested and that the money recovered was nothing to do with her.

Yesterday morning a former girlfriend of Seddon's, Alison Wright, who is also mother to his young daughter, Bethany, broke down in tears as she told the court how he had visited her house carrying a carrier bag which she claimed he said contained £5,000.

Miss Wright claimed she placed £3,000 in her bank account at his request on August 8, 1997. But within days cash was withdrawn - £1,200 on August 9 and £1,500 two days later.

She claimed that soon after the money was deposited in her account Seddon told her he wanted to take the money back because it belonged to the brother of his girlfriend.

Under cross-examination by David Fish, QC, representing Seddon, she admitted that their relationship had been a "stormy" one.

Before the court adjourned for the weekend Insp William Gaskin took to the stand to give evidence about his supervision of the identification parade at Longsight Police Station.

He confirmed that Seddon was picked out by three people while another 11 failed to pick anybody out and two more picked out parade volunteers.

Craig Hollinrake, 25, David Hargreaves, 24, and Brian David Roper, 22, all from Bolton, all plead not guilty to conspiring to murder John Bates, and a separate allegation of conspiring to cause Mr Bates grevious bodily harm with intent.

It is expected that the prosecution will close its case by Tuesday afternoon.

Proceeding.

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