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| Murdered woman's partner sent sexually explicit texts to accused | Murdered woman's partner sent sexually explicit texts to accused |
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| The partner of a businesswoman killed in acts of “demonic savagery” shared numerous sexually explicit texts with the woman accused of her murder, a court has heard. | The partner of a businesswoman killed in acts of “demonic savagery” shared numerous sexually explicit texts with the woman accused of her murder, a court has heard. |
| The former fireman, Ian Johnston, who had an affair with the woman accused of murdering his girlfriend, Sadie Hartley, broke down in tears as a jury was told he had a relationship with his partner’s alleged killer. | The former fireman, Ian Johnston, who had an affair with the woman accused of murdering his girlfriend, Sadie Hartley, broke down in tears as a jury was told he had a relationship with his partner’s alleged killer. |
| Johnston, 57, said he had been flattered by the attention of the younger woman, Sarah Williams, but described their relationship as “entertainment” and purely of a sexual nature. | Johnston, 57, said he had been flattered by the attention of the younger woman, Sarah Williams, but described their relationship as “entertainment” and purely of a sexual nature. |
| Williams and her friend, Katrina Walsh, are on trial for the murder of the communications director, Hartley. | Williams and her friend, Katrina Walsh, are on trial for the murder of the communications director, Hartley. |
| Williams, 35, is alleged to have incapacitated Hartley, 60, with a shot to the head from a stun gun and then stabbed her to death because she wanted to rekindle an affair with Johnston. It is claimed that “jealous and obsessive” Williams planned the murder for 17 months with the help of her close friend Walsh, 56. Both women deny murder. | Williams, 35, is alleged to have incapacitated Hartley, 60, with a shot to the head from a stun gun and then stabbed her to death because she wanted to rekindle an affair with Johnston. It is claimed that “jealous and obsessive” Williams planned the murder for 17 months with the help of her close friend Walsh, 56. Both women deny murder. |
| The court heard that Johnston, a ski instructor, had repeatedly tried to end it with Williams while he was in a relationship with Hartley but he claimed a “persistent” and “persuasive” Williams continued to pursue him. | The court heard that Johnston, a ski instructor, had repeatedly tried to end it with Williams while he was in a relationship with Hartley but he claimed a “persistent” and “persuasive” Williams continued to pursue him. |
| Johnston admitted that he had been weak and flattered by the attentions of a woman who was half his age but he claimed that he had not slept with her for about 14 months prior to Hartley’s murder and had been “trying to get rid of her [Williams]”. | Johnston admitted that he had been weak and flattered by the attentions of a woman who was half his age but he claimed that he had not slept with her for about 14 months prior to Hartley’s murder and had been “trying to get rid of her [Williams]”. |
| During awkward and emotionally charged exchanges with barristers at Preston crown court, it emerged that Johnston had continued having an intermittent sexual relationship with Williams, described as his “bit on the side” up until September 2014. | During awkward and emotionally charged exchanges with barristers at Preston crown court, it emerged that Johnston had continued having an intermittent sexual relationship with Williams, described as his “bit on the side” up until September 2014. |
| Johnston became tearful as he was repeatedly questioned by barristers about the “highly sexualised” nature of the text messages and his contact with Williams, which he revealed had continued for a number of years and at times while he was on holiday with Hartley. It was also revealed that the pair had even stayed in the same hotel – Williams with her “sugar daddy”, David Hardwick, 75, during a skiing holiday in December 2013 sharing further texts and “playing footsie” under the table. | Johnston became tearful as he was repeatedly questioned by barristers about the “highly sexualised” nature of the text messages and his contact with Williams, which he revealed had continued for a number of years and at times while he was on holiday with Hartley. It was also revealed that the pair had even stayed in the same hotel – Williams with her “sugar daddy”, David Hardwick, 75, during a skiing holiday in December 2013 sharing further texts and “playing footsie” under the table. |
| Johnston said he met Williams at the Chill Factore indoor ski slope in Manchester in December 2012 and, under the guise of giving her ski lessons, they swapped numbers. The lessons never took place with the pair embarking on an affair. But by October the following year, Johnston told how he had tried to end the affair as Williams had become “delusional”. | Johnston said he met Williams at the Chill Factore indoor ski slope in Manchester in December 2012 and, under the guise of giving her ski lessons, they swapped numbers. The lessons never took place with the pair embarking on an affair. But by October the following year, Johnston told how he had tried to end the affair as Williams had become “delusional”. |
| Johnston said: “It was very quick, there was no dating, and she turned up at my house having been invited in a short skirt and red high heels and there was immediate intimacy.” | Johnston said: “It was very quick, there was no dating, and she turned up at my house having been invited in a short skirt and red high heels and there was immediate intimacy.” |
| However, Johnston said there was “never any kind of permanence in the relationship”, describing it as “ad hoc” and claimed that it was of a sexual nature and had repeatedly tried to end it, claiming to friends that he was being “stalked” by Williams. | However, Johnston said there was “never any kind of permanence in the relationship”, describing it as “ad hoc” and claimed that it was of a sexual nature and had repeatedly tried to end it, claiming to friends that he was being “stalked” by Williams. |
| It is alleged that Williams became obsessed by Johnston, sending him presents and lengthy messages asking for their physical relationship to resume. | It is alleged that Williams became obsessed by Johnston, sending him presents and lengthy messages asking for their physical relationship to resume. |
| In one message when Johnston told her to find another man, she said: “I had someone, someone who made me feel happy, someone who made me feel alive, someone who told me I was beautiful and made me actually feel it. Someone who taught me what sex and love-making is supposed to be really like, that someone was you and nobody could ever replace you. I absolutely can’t let anyone else touch me.” | In one message when Johnston told her to find another man, she said: “I had someone, someone who made me feel happy, someone who made me feel alive, someone who told me I was beautiful and made me actually feel it. Someone who taught me what sex and love-making is supposed to be really like, that someone was you and nobody could ever replace you. I absolutely can’t let anyone else touch me.” |
| Johnston also recalled a skiing pal, Dr Ralph White, arriving at a resort in Switzerland in January 2015 with a present for him from Williams, with Johnston telling his friend that he was being stalked and claiming that he destroyed the present without opening it. | Johnston also recalled a skiing pal, Dr Ralph White, arriving at a resort in Switzerland in January 2015 with a present for him from Williams, with Johnston telling his friend that he was being stalked and claiming that he destroyed the present without opening it. |
| He said that after having a relationship with Williams, he was now trying to end it. “I didn’t want that relationship to continue, but I did continue to text her,” he told the defence barrister, Gordon Cole QC. | |
| Cole, who is representing Williams, then read out a number of text messages sent between the lovers. | Cole, who is representing Williams, then read out a number of text messages sent between the lovers. |
| One from Johnston read: “Feeling very hard and horny. Could really f*** you hard right now.” | One from Johnston read: “Feeling very hard and horny. Could really f*** you hard right now.” |
| Asked whether that amounted to him leading her on, he replied: “I don’t think that is fact. I sent those texts, but they were not being followed through.” | Asked whether that amounted to him leading her on, he replied: “I don’t think that is fact. I sent those texts, but they were not being followed through.” |
| Shortly after this, after being asked further questions about whether he had been encouraging Williams, Johnston did not reply, but then broke into a sob saying: “I’m not a psychologist.” Then, in a sob, he added: “A moment of weakness.” | Shortly after this, after being asked further questions about whether he had been encouraging Williams, Johnston did not reply, but then broke into a sob saying: “I’m not a psychologist.” Then, in a sob, he added: “A moment of weakness.” |
| The relationship took a sinister turn in September 2014 when Williams sent a letter to Hartley “in an act of complete spitefulness” detailing the affair. An upset Hartley confronted Johnston with the anonymous letter. He admitted that he had been cheating on Hartley with Williams. | The relationship took a sinister turn in September 2014 when Williams sent a letter to Hartley “in an act of complete spitefulness” detailing the affair. An upset Hartley confronted Johnston with the anonymous letter. He admitted that he had been cheating on Hartley with Williams. |
| The day after Hartley received the letter, Johnston said he was forced into physically removing Williams from his home with her “screaming and shouting” down the road, carrying a pair of red high heels after she turned up unannounced. | The day after Hartley received the letter, Johnston said he was forced into physically removing Williams from his home with her “screaming and shouting” down the road, carrying a pair of red high heels after she turned up unannounced. |
| Asked by the prosecutor John McDermott if he received this visit kindly, Johnston said: “No. She got halfway through the door. I was very worried. I was aware I would have to physically restrain her and I did not want to hurt her or damage her or for her to scream. | Asked by the prosecutor John McDermott if he received this visit kindly, Johnston said: “No. She got halfway through the door. I was very worried. I was aware I would have to physically restrain her and I did not want to hurt her or damage her or for her to scream. |
| “She appeared shocked by me not letting her in and appeared shocked that I knew about the letter. She left screaming and shouting and walked down the road with her high heels in her hand.” | “She appeared shocked by me not letting her in and appeared shocked that I knew about the letter. She left screaming and shouting and walked down the road with her high heels in her hand.” |
| Johnston broke down as he told the jury that after receiving the letter he and Hartley decided to take a trip to Sicily and then moved into together on their return in November 2014. | Johnston broke down as he told the jury that after receiving the letter he and Hartley decided to take a trip to Sicily and then moved into together on their return in November 2014. |
| Johnston earlier told how he had not wanted to continue the relationship with Williams but he had not been “forceful enough” and under cross-examination he admitted “electronic flirting”, including sharing naked photographs with her up until 10 days before Hartley was murdered. On 4 January, 10 days before Hartley’s murder, 30 messages were exchanged between the pair. | Johnston earlier told how he had not wanted to continue the relationship with Williams but he had not been “forceful enough” and under cross-examination he admitted “electronic flirting”, including sharing naked photographs with her up until 10 days before Hartley was murdered. On 4 January, 10 days before Hartley’s murder, 30 messages were exchanged between the pair. |
| An emotional Johnston explained that some of the most explicit exchanges with Williams had taken place during a “stressful time” in his life as his mother died of a terminal illness in December last year. | |
| He said that after September 2014 he was only alone with her on one more occasion when she stood in front of his car bonnet in the Chill Factore car park where she worked at Crystal Ski Holidays. | |
| He said: “I told her I could not be seen with her and drove off.” | He said: “I told her I could not be seen with her and drove off.” |
| Williams and Walsh, a riding instructor of Hare Lane, Chester, both deny murder. | Williams and Walsh, a riding instructor of Hare Lane, Chester, both deny murder. |