An Oxfordshire woman was murdered by her lodger and her body buried under a pile of tools in the garden shed, a court heard.

Peter Airey, 27, battered Carol Evans to death with a hammer, then went on a spending spree using her chequebook and cash card, Northampton Crown Court was told.

It was alleged he sold her camera and mobile phone, before telling her work colleagues she had flu and would not be at work.

Airey, of Norman Road, Peterborough, denies murdering Carol Evans. He admitted seven counts of theft, one of forgery and two of obtaining property by deception.

Airey moved into Miss Evans's home in Norman Road in October 1999 after answering a newspaper advertisement, David Farrell, prosecuting, said.

They became close and Miss Evans, 39, gave Airey her personal identification number for her bank card. But, the court was told Airey betrayed her trust and began stealing cash from her account.

Neighbours and relatives heard the pair having blazing rows in the early part of 2001, shortly before Miss Evans went missing.

Miss Evans' mother, Joyce Dee, from Didcot, telephoned the house and was told by Airey that her daughter had gone away.

Mrs Dee said: "He said she had gone to Kent to see a boyfriend she had there."

After Miss Evans was reported missing, police broke into the house to conduct a thorough search on April 24, 2001.

Miss Evans decomposing body was found in a black bag, under some tools and rubbish, in an outhouse.

The case continues.