A MURDER suspect kept his ex-partner's clothing including her underwear under his pillow and sprayed them with her perfume and also left a noose at her farm so he could 'hang himself', a court heard.

Mark Chilman denies the murder of Neil Parkinson whose body was found in the driver's seat of his burnt-out BMW in a lay-by in Ankeridge Road, Cotheridge, on the A44 Bromyard-Worcester road.

The 66-year-old's body was found in the car on December 12 last year after neighbours spotted the blaze and called the fire service.

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Chilman's trial got under way at Worcester Crown Court today.

Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, said Juliet Adcock had ended her 'unhappy relationship' with Chilman and formed a new relationship with Mr Parkinson.

Mr Heywood described Chilman leaving 'morbid items' including plaques for dogs that had died and a noose 'to hang himself with' around the farm where he had lived with Mrs Adcock.

He had never had a key to the farm, the court heard.

Chilman, 52, of Old Post Office, Pencombe, Bromyard, had clothing belonging to Mrs Adcock at Pencombe including a sweater and two pairs of underwear which he had taken when he left six weeks earlier, the court heard.

Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, said: "He explained that he kept the items under his pillow.

"He sprayed her top with a perfume Juliet Adcock used and which he had bought on the internet. He also kept that under the pillow and cuddled it every night before going to sleep."

He explained to police that this was because he was 'still in love with her' and it 'reminded him of her'.

The trial continues.