Love rival's body burned in bin

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A man has admitted beating a love rival to death, stuffing him in a wheelie bin and setting fire to his body.

The badly burnt body of John Paul Bennett was found by a dog walker behind a community centre in Adlington, Lancashire, in September last year.

Philip Stewart, 34, pleaded guilty to his murder the day his trial was due to start at Preston Crown Court.

The former girlfriend of both Stewart and his victim, Christen Gardner, also admitted assisting an offender.

This is one of the most appalling crimes I have investigated and I believe that the major motive for this horrific attack was jealousy Det Ch Insp Andy Hulme

Stewart, from Adlington, instructed Gardner and two other men to help him dispose of Bennett's body after a dispute broke out between the pair.

Police said it was over Gardner, who had had a relationship with both of them.

The gang had all been out drinking earlier that day, things became heated and Stewart attacked his victim, leaving him with fatal head injuries at a house in The Avenue, Adlington, Lancashire Police said.

They used a wheelie bin to transport the body down to the recreational area next to the local community centre.

Helping offender

Petrol was poured on John Paul Bennett's body and Stewart set him alight in an attempt to burn the corpse before throwing him in a bush.

The dog walker made the gruesome discovery the following morning, and the three men and woman were arrested the same day.

At a previous hearing in December, two men, Kevin Forbes, 53 and Alan Barton, 56, both from Leyland Lane, in Leyland, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.

All four are due to be sentenced on Friday.

Det Ch Insp Andy Hulme said: ''I am satisfied with the outcome of this investigation.

"The fact that Stewart has admitted killing John Paul Bennett and pleaded guilty to his murder has saved the family of the deceased the ordeal of having to sit through a long trial.

'Good honest people'

"This was a reckless and completely unnecessary act. Stewart has shown no regard for human life, inflicting fatal injuries on Mr Bennett following a sustained attack before setting him on fire.

"This is one of the most appalling crimes I have investigated and I believe that the major motive for this horrific attack was jealousy.

"The other people chose to assist Stewart in disposing of the body and from a very early stage, Gardner did all she could to protect Stewart and obstruct our investigation.

"The Adlington community have shown what good honest people they are and the support they have given to the investigation can only be commended.

"The past six months have been incredibly difficult for the family of John Bennett and they have conducted themselves with such dignity."