A MAN who claims he tried to prevent his friend from stabbing a man to death has admitted he rang his drug dealer not an ambulance in the moments after the attack.

Anthony Driver denies the murder of Craig Hepburn , in Marsden last year.

Driver, 36, says he punched the teenager during a brawl on Old Mount Road but says his co-accused, Luke Elliott, stabbed the 19-year-old to death.

The two men are currently on trial at Leeds Crown Court for the murder and the attempted murder of Mr Hepburn’s friend, Connor Paton.

Last week Driver told the court he had tried to prevent Elliott from attacking the teenager.

But yesterday as the fourth week of the trial began, prosecutor, Peter Moulson said Driver’s actions after the alleged murder did not show much remorse.

“You were just partying weren’t you?” he said. “Having spliffs and taking M-Cat.

Driver said: “I suppose so – it was wrong but I was just trying to block it all out.”

Moulson: “Why was ringing (your dealer) more of a priority than an ambulance?”

Driver said: “I didn’t know he was dying. I didn’t appreciate how injured he was.

“I didn’t do the right thing, I admit that.

“I was worried about what was going to happen to me because of my criminal history and my background.

“I was frightened to death of what was going to happen and I thought I was going to get blamed.

“I had seen Connor Paton run away and ( Marsden ) is only a small place, so I knew it was all going to end in tears.”

Mr Moulson insisted Driver was part of a team with co-defendant Elliott.

But Driver denied it and said he had been under the cosh in prison for being a “grass” and telling the truth.

He said: “We’re not a team.

“There were two different roles played. I didn’t have a knife with me, I threw a punch, that’s it.

“I’ve been punched, threatened, spat at and called a grass for the last 10 months (in prison), all because I told the truth.”

Driver’s counsel, John Elvidge, asked him about how he had pleaded in previous court appearances.

“I’ve always pleaded guilty,” said Driver.

“I’ve taken accountability for all the things I’ve done, which is loads.

“I wish I could turn back time and change it – I didn’t want anybody to get hurt like that.”

Jurors also heard about Elliott’s criminal past. The 22-year-old was 15 when he was convicted of battery at Huddersfield Youth Court in 2006.

He admitted a street robbery the following year, an assault on his girlfriend in 2009 and an unlawful wounding after hitting a woman with part of a vacuum cleaner.

He was then jailed for 33 months in 2011 after admitting being part of a group that assaulted a man.

Elliott admitted to the court he had a bad temper but said he had responded well to anger management and alcohol violence classes while in prison.

“What I’ve done in the past is despicable,” he said, “but I’m trying to turn my life around.”

Elliott, of Main Avenue, Cowlersley, and Driver, of Grange Cottages, Marsden, deny murdering Craig Hepburn and the attempted murder of Connor Paton.

The trial continues.