A man has admitted hindering a murder inquiry by moving the body of an alleged victim and lying to police.

Neal Hinton, aged 39, of Ness View Road, Teignmouth, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice when he appeared before Judge Peter Johnson at Exeter Crown Court.

He admitted doing a series of acts which were intended to pervert the course of public justice in relation to the alleged murder of Matthew Jackson in Teignmouth in June.

The charge states that between June 1 and 5 he moved the body and lied in subsequent police interviews.

David Ablett, aged 52, of Barnpark Terrace, Teignmouth, has already denied murder and is due to be tried at Exeter Crown Court on November 19.

He is accused of murdering 38-year-old Mr Jackson, from Kingsteignton, whose body was found at Barnpark Terrace between June 1and 4 this year.

He did not appear at the short hearing at which Hinton entered his guilty plea.

Judge Johnson, who appeared by video link from Plymouth Crown Court, adjourned Hinton’s sentence until December 3 and released him on bail.

He told him a jail sentence was the likely outcome but ordered a probation pre sentence report to be prepared.

Miss Heather Hope, for Hinton, said: ‘Those acting for him are going to put together a package of reports. He clearly has a number of difficulties. It will make sense for him to be sentenced at the conclusion of the trial.’