A train guard accused of murdering a wealthy pensioner told detectives he left his alleged victim alive and well, a court heard.

David MacBride, 44, said he handed over £119,000 in cash to buy a luxury boat from Robert Saint and then sailed to Portsmouth with him.

MacBride, of Bramber Close, Bognor, has denied murdering the 70-year-old widower.

The trial at Lewes Crown Court has heard the prosecution allege MacBride battered the retired property developer to death and dumped his body in the sea.

He is said to have become obsessed with buying The Sundowner, a 42ft motor cruiser, and lying about having the money to pay for it.

Mr Saint disappeared after arranging to meet MacBride in September last year to discuss the sale of the boat, moored at Birdham Pool, near Chichester.

He was reported missing by his son when Mr Saint, known as Captain Bob, failed to return to his home in Horsham Road, Steyning.

His badly beaten body was discovered by a fossil hunter ten days later on the beach at the Isle of Wight.

The jury heard MacBride was questioned by police two days after Mr Saint disappeared after he was seen on board The Sundowner.

In a video recorded interview with detectives shown to the court, MacBride was seen telling officers he had handed over the cash payment for the boat in £50 notes. He had found the money while working on a train to London four months earlier.

He said the two men had a friendly meeting when the deal was finalised and then Mr Saint asked him to drop him off at Portsmouth Harbour where he intended to meet a friend.

MacBride said in the interview: "He jumped off on to the harbour wall and he left. As I recall he did not really tell me any specific plans. There was a spark in his voice as if he was looking forward to something."

MacBride said Mr Saint, a former timber yard manager, had handed him his car keys and asked for them to be passed to the lock keeper at Birdham Pool in case his car, which was left near the mooring, was in the way.

He said earlier the two men had sat chatting about the boat and had celebrated the sale over a glass of wine.

He said Mr Saint, a grandfather, had called him "chum" a few times.

He said he had limited experience with boats of the size of The Sundowner and had been apprehensive about taking it out alone for the first time so he had welcomed the opportunity to travel to Portsmouth with Mr Saint on board.

He said he last saw Mr Saint, who was carrying the holdall containing the cash, standing by the harbour.

He said: "I wished him luck and said have a nice time and that was it."

The trial continues.