TWO teenagers have admitted killing grandfather John Greer.

Reece Gledhill, 18, of no fixed abode, admitted murdering Brighouse-born Mr Greer, 60, in September, after changing his plea yesterday.

And Clare Hardy, 19, of Close Lea Way, Rastrick, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of provocation.

Father-of-five Mr Greer, of Arncliffe Crescent, Rastrick, was found dead at his flat on September 5 last year.

He had been strangled and his throat cut.

Gledhill and Hardy, who will be sentenced tomorrow, have been told to expect long jail terms.

Mr Greer, who lived alone on Arncliffe Crescent, had been battling lung cancer.

The dead man worked as a gritter and roadsweeper for Calderdale Council before he became ill.

Mr Greer, known as ‘Brusher’, had also worked on building sites.

It is thought Mr Greer had been married before.

A friend, Neil Richer, speaking at the time of the killing, described Mr Greer as “friendly guy” who “kept himself to himself”.

Mr Richer, 44, said: “I’ve known him for about 10 years. He was poorly with lung cancer. I think he was retired.

“He was friendly guy. I used to pop up and see him. I didn’t think he’d hurt a fly. Since he moved here I got to know him. I’d go down to the pub with him.”

Outlining the case yesterday, Hardy’s counsel Simon Bourne-Arton QC said his client had complained of being sexually assaulted by Mr Greer – a friend of her mother – when she was aged ‘12 or 13’.

Mr Bourne-Arton said: “Not only did her mother disbelieve the account of the conduct of the deceased, she continued to befriend the deceased.

“All that caused deep upset in the young girl. She was 12 or 13 at the time.

“There is a report of an educational officer that the defendant went off the rails at about the same time so this was a constant source of upset to the defendant.”

Upon learning Mr Greer had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, Hardy decided to confront him and have him admit to the alleged assault, Mr Bourne-Arton said.

On September 4 Hardy, Gledhill and another person had been drinking and decided to visit Mr Greer.

Mr Bourne-Arton said: “Hardy in particular had been drinking heavily. She was ruminating about the position of the deceased and went to confront him with a view of having, at last, his acceptance of what he had done.”

‘An event’ at Mr Greer’s flat caused Hardy to ‘lose self-control’ and attack him, Mr Bourne-Arton said.

Mr Bourne-Arton said: “She has to accept homicidal intent at that stage.”

Gledhill, dressed in a black suit, shirt and tie, and Hardy, who was wearing dark clothing, were remanded in custody.