A Shropshire man accused of killing a father-of-two slept with an axe by the side of his bed because he was so “scared” after allegedly stabbing him to death, a court heard.

Craig Nigel Dunn, 33, kept a mobile phone in one hand and an axe in the other as he slept at the bedsit which he shared with his fiancee, Rebecca Headley, the jury at Strafford Crown Court was told.

Dunn, of Willowfield, Woodside, Telford, is accused of the murder of Neil Powell, pictured, on April 29 last year. He denies the charge.

Miss Headley told the court yesterday Dunn had admitted committing the murder to her and that he had planned to burn the car used to run Mr Powell over. He had also also used her cash to pay for information about the murder inquiry.

She said Dunn was “normal” before he found out who had died but became “anxious” when he was told the victim was Mr Powell.

She said: “He was sleeping with a mobile phone in one hand and an axe at the side of the bed from the time of the murder to when he was arrested.”

Crying as she gave evidence she said: “He was coming to me for money and telling me that he was paying to find out information.

“These two people told him information – one was that no forensics were found on the car and his name wasn’t found on the 999 tape.”

She said she did not tell anyone about the confession until a week later, when she told Dunn’s brother Nick. She then told detectives.

Miss Headley, who was due to marry Dunn a month after his arrest, said she was against drugs and was trying to control his habit.

Under cross examination, she told why she had not reported the confession to the police straight away.

She said: “I was scared. I didn’t want Craig to get into trouble. I didn’t believe he could do such a thing and I still don’t believe he can do something like that.”

Detective Constable Elizabeth Wydra said Dunn told police he had smoked crack cocaine with Mr Powell at his Madeley home hours before Mr Powell was found by the Ironbridge by-pass.

The trial continues.

By Kirsty Marston