A CARPENTER accused of shooting a businessman dead in an alleged botched burglary told a court yesterday he was a thief with a drug addiction - but not a murderer.

Kevin Downton said he would sit alone in his van to snort cocaine because he was ashamed of the habit and regularly stole diesel from lorries to substitute his own fuel supply.

The 40-year-old is one of three men standing trial accused of murdering Guy Hedger.

Mr Hedger, 61, was shot during an alleged raid at his home in Castlewood, St Ives in the early hours of April 30. He suffered fatal injuries.

Downton, of Winterborne Stickland, near Blandford, and his co-defendants Jason Baccus, 42, and Scott Keeping, 44, both of Verney Close, Bournemouth, all deny murder.

Dressed in a dark suit and white shirt when he took to the stand on Tuesday, Downton said he would often carry out commercial burglaries on industrial estates and particularly steal diesel from lorries - sometimes three or four times a week, mainly for his own use.

But when questioned by his defence barrister Adam Feest QC, Downton said he never carried out domestic burglaries.

Earlier in the trial, the court heard how Downton told police he was not involved in the death of Mr Hedger.

The defendant met Baccus in prison and the pair had become friends. However, they had not spoken much for a decade after a row, it was heard.

Downton said he met Keeping through Baccus, but did not know him well. Downton visited the home of his co-defendants several times in the days before Mr Hedger's death to buy cocaine, it was heard.

He said he started having a problem with the drug in January - initially taking it on Friday and Saturday nights but then every day.

He told the court this led to him sitting alone in his van so he could keep the habit a secret.

"In the beginning it was something I wanted when I had a drink," he said.

"I was just shutting myself off from everybody else.

"I was hiding it, I was ashamed and didn't want anybody to know.

"I couldn't stop. I was addicted."

The three male defendants also deny charges of aggravated burglary and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence.

Baccus and Downton admit one charge of burglary of industrial premises in Verwood on the same day as the Castlewood incident, but deny another offence of burglary in the same area.

Helen Keeping, 40, from Poole, denies two charges of assisting an offender.

The trial at Winchester Crown Court continues.