Alan Gregory, a 36-year-old security guard, denies the murder of the 25-year-old mother of two, of Conan Road, Conisbrough, in January this year.

Sheffield Crown Court heard Claire was viciously beaten to death and was attacked with a tree branch.

She suffered head injuries, which could have been either from a rock or stone, or by someone stamping on her head in countryside at Denaby Crags, near Doncaster. Her body was then wrapped in plastic bin bags and dumped in a car.

Family and friends said Claire had begun using cannabis at the age of 13, but had eventually become hooked on heroin and crack cocaine.

Friend Susan Mee said: "Claire paid for her drugs by stealing most of the time. She never admitted that she had sex with men for money but she always came out with money."

She last saw Claire with an old man with grey hair on the morning of January 9 in a graveyard near her home in Conisbrough.

Claire's sister Leanne said both she and her elder sister became addicted to heroin, as did Claire's boyfriend David Noble.

The court heard Claire's two children lived with her mother Sharon Laggan but she had spent last Christmas with her and the boys.

Sharon said: "She asked if she would be able to stay Christmas Eve. She loved being with the boys at Christmas. She helped wrap up the toys on Christmas Eve. She bought Power Rangers for the boys."

Claire's body was discovered on January 13 this year close to the playing fields of Conisbrough Northcliffe School and Rowena Infants School.

Boots found at Gregory's home at Castle Well, Denaby, contained traces of her blood.

Samples of both his DNA and that of Claire was also discovered on a pair of latex gloves recovered from the scene of her death, along with a used condom with Gregory's DNA.

The court heard Gregory took an interest in the murder scene and visited it several times while police were searching the area to ask if he could take a short cut through to the shops.

"The defendant showed an interest in the Crags before she was found," said Mr Lowe. "He asked what was happening. He asked if he could get through the woods."

When police asked for his details Mr Lowe said he told them: "Why do you want my details? You don't think I did it, do you?"

He also phoned police in the days after her death to say he recognised her photo and had witnessed an argument between her and a man in December last year.

In a statement to police after his arrest on February 1 this year Gregory said he regularly had sex with his partner Della Reed in the woods where Claire was found.

He added he would also collect discarded aluminium cans from the woods and would use latex gloves to protect his hands from addicts' needles.

The trial continues.





READ MORE
Main news index
Your letters.
Features
Check out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic section
Latest sport.