A Shropshire man was murdered after his long-term partner, who was pregnant, conspired with her lover to get rid of him, a court was told.

George Black was set on fire after a mixture of petrol and kerosene was thrown over him at his Bucknell home, near Craven Arms, a jury heard at Worcester Crown Court yesterday.

The 41-year-old pawnbroker died 36 hours later in hospital as a result of his injuries.

A jury was told that 22-year-old Sylvia Marie Smith, Mr Black’s girlfriend, had exchanged a series of phone calls and text messages with her lover Robert Field in the weeks leading up to the attack on December 8 last year.

The court heard that Smith was pregnant and believed Field, 22, to be the father.

Field, of Etnam Street, Leominster, and Gareth Powell, 29, of The Grove, Shobdon, Leominster, both deny murder.

Smith, of Cherrybrook Close, Hope-under-Dinmore, Leominster, denies conspiracy to murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

On the first day of the trial Miss Rachel Brand QC, prosecuting, said Smith and Field had flirted via text, sent sexual messages, discussed marriage and what to do about the baby.

The court heard how late at night on December 2 and early on December 3, the pair had exchanged texts in which Smith talked of hiding the pregnancy and being with Field.

The jury was told Smith had applied for a loan of £20,000 on December 3 and said she wanted the money for a wedding.

Miss Brand said: “There’s no evidence that she and George Black were intending to marry, but there had been quite a lot of discussion between her and Robert Field about marrying.”

Miss Brand added: “It’s clear the two of them had agreed to dispose of their problem, their problem was George Black.”

Smith’s mother Sylvia Jane Smith, 42, and her stepfather Steven Smith, 45, also of Cherrybrook Close, both deny attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The trial continues.

By Hannah Costigan at Worcester Crown Court