The youth accused of murdering Kelly Hyde told police he did not admit taking her dog lead from the bridlepath where she was killed because he panicked.
He only admitted taking the lead during his seventh interview with officers, some three days after his arrest, Swansea Crown Court has heard.
The teen said in interview he had seen the lead lying on the path as he returned from walking his own dog. He also claimed for the first time that he spotted a small amount of blood nearby.
"When I walked down the path I did see blood and picked up the dog lead and put it in my pocket," he said. "I thought I had just found a dog lead."
He said that when he heard of Ms Hyde's murder three days after his discovery he did not come forward because he feared he would be blamed.
"I panicked," he said. "I did not know what to do."
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