AN off-duty police officer alerted colleagues to a killing within minutes of hearing gunshots as he watched television, a court was told yesterday.

Sergeant Nick Lynch looked out of his bedroom window after hearing two bangs, and saw a figure fleeing. He alerted armed officers to Kirkleatham showground, near Redcar, where they found the body of drug dealer Bryan Scott, 26, who had been shot in the back with a sawn-off shotgun. He had gone to pick up drugs money, said Franz Muller, QC.

Mr Muller said the intended victim might have been Dean Taylor, 30, who received a phone call telling him to go to the showground, but refused to go.

Mr Muller said the shotgun pellets matched some sent to Mr Taylor in a death threat letter, which also threatened him with crucifixion. DNA on the stamp of the envelope matched that of martial arts instructor Anthony Bottrill, 41, he said.

Two anonymous letters sent to Cleveland Police tried to pin the killing on Mr Taylor, Teesside Crown Court was told. A handwriting expert said they were written by Mr Bottrill, who was having a relationship with Mr Taylor's estranged wife, Amanda, 26.

Mr Bottrill, of High Street West, Redcar, denies murdering Mr Scott, of Charles Street, Redcar, on March 18. He also denies threatening to kill Mr Taylor.

Mr Taylor denied he was a cocaine dealer, but said that after the killing of Bryan Scott there were rumours that he was the intended target.

On the night of the killing, Mr Taylor said that he was at a friend's house in New Marske when an agitated Mr Scott phoned him.

Later, he drove to Kirkleatham and saw Mr Scott's car parked near the showground.

The case continues