Preston murder accused phoned mother and told her: ‘I hope they don’t think I’ve done it - I know what police are like.’

Vulnerable Steven May, 50, who suffered Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, epilepsy, and alcohol dependency, was found fully clothed, on his fully made up bed - with injuries prosecutors say are "systematic of abuse".

It is alleged May's 'lodger' Darren Taylor, 45, who moved into Mr May's two bedroomed semi on Raven Street Preston, three months before his death, murdered him.

He denies the charge and is on trial at Preston Crown Court.

Temporary Detective Sergeant Dave Greenwood, based at Preston Police Station, was involved in gathering and reviewing CCTV evidence during the investigation.

Rolling footage from a nearby property on Raven Street shows activity at the home the men shared from the morning of Saturday May 18, when Mr May was last seen alive, to the morning of Monday May 20, when Mr May was ‘found’.

Det Sgt Greenwood told jurors at Preston Crown Court it was his task to identify the movements of Mr May to and from the nearby McColls shop and his movements when Mr May arrived home on May 18.

He said there were a number of trips to and from the shop on the Saturday, and that he was last seen at 9.51pm and that he “doesn’t ever come out”.

Prosecuting, David Temkin said: “What conclusion were you able to reach about his movements?”

He replied: “That he was in and out of the property a number of times and arrived home at around eight minutes to 10, having been at the shop, and I say Mr May does not leave the address - he is not seen again on that footage.”

The defendant claims on Sunday, May 19, Steven had gone out and when he went to bed at around 11pm that evening he still had not returned home.

He claims he woke on Monday May 20 to find the front door was slightly ajar and the keys on the hallway floor, and Mr May dead on his bed.

In a statement read to the court, Taylor’s mother, Lorraine Taylor said: “On Monday he rang me in the morning and said: ‘Mum I’ve found Steven and he’s dead, what do I do?”

I said phone the ambulance and phone the police.

He then said: ‘Right,’ and hung up the phone.

“He rang later at about 10.30am and said he’d phoned Steven’s sister and they’d all come round. He told me police and the ambulance had come and taken Steven away and that was it.

He said something like: ‘I hope they don’t think I’ve done it - I know what police are like.’”

He also said Steven must have gone out the night before on Sunday because when he got back the door was open and the key was on the floor.

Darren said he went up to his room and found him.”

The jury previously heard Mr May had suffered 76 rib fractures in the last 12 weeks of his life, to 21 ribs with only his first left rib and third right rib remaining intact, and a fractured jaw which caused severe bleeding.

A Home Office pathologist concluded the injuries were due to blunt impact trauma, in keeping with punching, kicking and stamping, and possibly the use of a blunt object.

(proceeding)