An 18-year-old drowned a retired clergyman then chopped up his body and distributing the parts across Sussex, a court was told today.

Christopher Hunnisett, of Coventry Road, St Leonards, denies murdering the Rev Ronald Glazebrook, 81, also of St Leonards, but has admitted preventing his lawful burial.

His friend, Jason Groves, 18, from Hastings, had also previously pleaded guilty to preventing his lawful burial.

Both men were 17 at the time of the alleged offences.

Philip Katz QC, prosecuting, told Lewes Crown court that Hunnisett, who was lodging with Mr Glazebrook, drowned him in the bath, then told two of his friends.

It is alleged he then enlisted one friend, Groves, to help him dispose of the body.

Mr Katz said Hunnisett attacked Mr Glazebrook at his flat in Dane Road, St Leonards, because of their worsening relationship. He stressed that the relationship was in no way sexual.

He told the jury that the case was "rather ghoulish", adding that they must not be swayed by emotions.

At the time of Mr Glazebrook's death, on Friday April 27, last year, Hunnisett, who was 17 at the time, had been lodging with him for some time, rent-free at first and then later paying rent, Mr Katz said.

Mr Katz described the arrangement as "misguided charity to this defendant."

He continued: "The Rev Glazebrook was abused in his own home and eventually drowned in his bath. He was then chopped into pieces and distributed around Sussex by this defendant and Jason Groves.

"Groves was recruited to help dispose of the body in this way by Hunnisett, who had admitted to him he had in fact committed the murder.

"There is evidence that the relationship between Hunnisett and Glazebrook had deteriorated to the extent that the Rev Glazebrook wanted him out of the flat."

He said Hunnisett "had grown to enjoy the life he was leading with access to the Rev Glazebrook's fairly elegant home, his car, his boat. They shared a common interest in sailing.

"He had his own room in Mr Glazebrook's flat with a computer and internet access. He was in the process of getting a new job. The last thing he needed was to be homeless out on the streets."

He told the court that after Mr Glazebrook's disappearance, there was no dispute that Hunnisett had "lied calmly, continuously and convincingly" to the anxious family and the police who were trying to find him.

Parts of the missing man's body were found around Summerfield Wood, Hastings, on May 16 and the two teenagers were arrested again.

This time, in an interview on May 18, Groves admitted his part in disposing of the body, and took police to a place on the A259 where the rest of Mr Glazebrook's body - his torso - was found.

He also took officers to another spot at Friston Hill, where he said the body had been dismembered.

Mr Katz said it was for the jury to decide whether Mr Glazebrook died of old age or drowned.

But, he asked, if he had died of natural causes, why dispose of the body in such an elaborate way?

The trial continues.