A FORENSIC scientist has told jurors how a murder suspect's DNA was found on industrial tape which also had traces of his alleged victim's genetic fingerprint.

Andrew Pearson is accused of abducting and murdering his former partner Natalie Harker as she made her way to work last October.

The 30-year-old's body was found naked and bruised inside a tent belonging to Pearson 12 hours after she went missing.

Jurors at Teesside Crown Court heard how traces of the defendant's semen were discovered on Miss Harker while blood smeared on her body was shown to be hers.

Dr Gemma Escott said clothing found inside the tent belonged to Miss Harker and there was evidence that the hood of her waterproof jacket had been ripped off 'recently'.

Forensic examination of the 20cm long strip of industrial tape was matched to one of two rolls found inside the tent which had Pearson's DNA on.

Dr Escott also described how there was no trace of saliva on the tape but there was evidence of it being stretched.

Alistair MacDonald QC, prosecuting, asked the witness whether their were traces of the alleged victim's blood and the defendant's semen recovered during her forensic examinations and she simply replied: "Yes."

Earlier, the court had heard how Pearson had described Miss Harker as a 'bit of a one' as he believed she had started seeing someone else.

Andrea Nolan said: "He hoped she would live to regret her decision and life has a way of coming full circle."

Pearson was also shown to have had a 40 minute-plus Facetime conversation with his friend in the United States when he claims he was unconscious after saying he tried to revive Miss Harker when she fell into a stream.

The defendant then deleted the message ‘I have killed Natalie, I’m going to hand myself in’ in an attempt to ‘save his skin’, the prosecution say.

Miss Harker's friends and former colleagues told jurors that she was worried that her former partner was following her and she had received a number of worrying text messages.

One friend, Gary Palmer, said Miss Harker had asked him to intervene if he saw someone stop her on her way home.

Pearson, of Chestnut Court, Catterick Garrison, denies murder.

The trial continues.