A POLISH builder who employed the man accused of killing a gay pensioner has said he used to exchange prison stories with the defendant.

Construction worker Marek Marcejonis employed fellow Pole, Marcin Orlowski, in July last year.

Orlowski is on trial at the Old Bailey for the murder of 79-year-old Edward Highwood who was killed in his home in Hollymount Close, Blackheath, on July 17 last year.

Mr Marcejonis had known the homeless defendant for three days and had allowed him to sleep in his flat in Deptford.

On the third day he took Orlowski to Deptford's 999 Club to pick up some free clothes.

It was here the defendant met Mr Highwood for the first time.

The witness, speaking via a Polish interpreter, said: “I made a decision to offer him accommodation and a job.

“He told me he had run away from Poland because he was wanted by the judicial system.

“He said there was a case in Poland for robbery and he was due to be sentenced.

“He thought he would go to prison and he told me some stories from his time in prison.

“This was something I could share with him because I have also been in prison.”

Mr Marcejonis added: “He told me about sexual contact he had had with other prisoners when he had been in prison in Poland. But he might have been joking.”

During cross-examination defence lawyer Nigel Lithman told the jury Orlowski was not awaiting sentence but was in fact serving a suspended sentence and had missed several probation appointments.

Mr Lithman also produced a document from the Polish courts proving Mr Marcejonis had himself been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for offences such as robbery, burglary and credit card fraud. Many of these sentences ran concurrently and all had been served.

Orlowski denies murder, claiming he was provoked into hitting the victim with a vase due to his unwanted sexual advances.

The trial continues.