A contractor carrying out work at the home of a woman allegedly murdered by her estranged husband has said she told him she was expecting a lump sum and that once she got it she was off.

Tony Morgan told a jury at Stafford Crown Court that Diane Ingram also expressed concerns to him about violence from her husband.

Mr Morgan, who was sub-contracted by Cannock Council to fit doors to homes, said Mrs Ingram had told him he was not to let anybody into the house while working there.

“She seemed upset,” he said. “She said she and her husband were going through a messy divorce and told me her husband had shown violence towards her.”

Mr Morgan was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of Jim Ingram, aged 63, of Don Grove, Cannock, who denies murdering 61-year-old Diane on March 13.

The prosecution alleges Mrs Ingram was stabbed to death in her flat the day before Ingram, said to be very mean, was due to hand £133,000 to her solicitors.

Mr Morgan said: “She said she was expecting a lump sum and added ‘when I’ve got the money I’m off’.”

He said he was replacing the back and front doors of her flat in Avon Road, Cannock, and she approached him before the job started and said he was not to let anyone in. Under cross-examination by Mr Rex Tedd QC, Mr Morgan agreed the picture she was painting was one of steering clear of her husband.

He said she made no mention of keeping up sexual relations with him.

Mr Tedd put to him: “You don’t know if it was a pack of attention seeking lies?”

“No,” replied Mr Morgan.

The hearing continues.