A BANKRUPT conservatory salesman who was having an affair with a Cranage cattery owner mutilated her body in a bid to destroy the evidence, a court has heard.

Diana Lee, 54, who owned a cattery off Byley Lane in the village, was murdered in her Parklands property on August 9, 2012.

David Ryan, of Byrom Street, Hale, denies murdering Mrs Lee, who the court learned he was having an affair with, and stood in the dock for the first day of his eight week trial at Chester Crown Court, today, Wednesday, June 5.

Mrs Lee was found in her garage by fire fighters who were called to a blaze at her home on August 9, 2012.

Forensic experts found Mrs Lee, who was divorced, was killed after receiving ‘numerous blows to her head’ with a ‘blunt object’ but her body had also been slumped over a wheelbarrow and a fire had been started.

Mrs Lee’s Vauxhall Corsa was later found at 10.30am the same day, in Smith Lane, Mobberley by taxi driver David Stimpson, who saw someone trying to ‘torch’ it.

That person made off on a bicycle and after being followed by Mr Stimpson abandoned it and fled by foot over fields.

Brian Cummings QC, prosecuting, told the jury of six men and six women that Mr Ryan had mutilated Mrs Lee and started four fires in an attempt to destroy the evidence.

“The Home Office pathologist found multiple injuries indicating a sustained attack with a blunt object,” he said.

“These head injuries were the cause of death. There were no defensive injuries, which suggests that Diana Lee was either quickly overcome, was restrained or was asleep at the time she was attacked.”

The court was told that Mr Ryan had met Mrs Lee the night before she died where they had sex in the back of her Vauxhall Corsa.

Mrs Lee had been out in Knutsford on the evening of August 8 where she had eaten at the Manzan Chinese restaurant on King Street.

CCTV cameras and ANPR devices showed she travelled to Altrincham after leaving the restaurant at 10.10pm and was seen heading north at 10.35pm and then back south in the direction of her home 40 minutes later.

It was later claimed by the prosecution that Mr Ryan, who was bankrupt and had racked up £90,000 debts, was receiving 'large amounts of cash from Diana Lee' during their relationship.

The jury was told that while the pair were seeing each other Mrs Lee had taken £70,000 out of her accounts, while Mr Ryan had spent £53,000 during that same period despite having huge debts and no income.

Mr Cummings added: “In interview when he was arrested, he was asked about his financial affairs and his expenditure and he said that he had saved some money and that friends had given him money when he had been evicted from his previous home and been made bankrupt.

“He said he kept his money hidden in a bag in a wardrobe in the spare bedroom but had since spent it on his wife.

“He denied that he had asked Diana Lee for money or that she had given him any.”

Mr Cummings went onto claim that Mr Ryan had tried to frame Mrs Lee’s lodger, Andrew Leese, for the killing by dipping an antique dagger belonging to him in the blood of Diana.

Mr Ryan began his affair with Mrs Lee in 2010 after the pair met at the Cinnamon Club in Bowdon.

He had carried out odd jobs around her Cranage home after being invited to carry out a quote to replace the windows.

Mr Ryan denies murder.

The trial continues.