Widow, 81, 'was stabbed to death in bed by her cleaner'

On the day of the murder, the cleaner feared her employer would find she was stealing from her, the jury was told. Joyce Cregeen, 81, was found day in bedclothes soaked in blood in her home in Epsom.

The retired police administrator lived on her own and was "a formidable lady" who was meticulous about her home being kept clean and tidy, the court heard.

Her cleaner Nicola Bushnell, 44, of Epsom, has pleaded not guilty to murder in May last year.

Anthony Glass, QC, prosecuting, who told the jury there had been "tensions" between the women, said: "Mrs Cregeen was stabbed many, many times and slashed repeatedly to the body."

On the day Mrs Cregeen was murdered Bushnell feared she would find out she had been stealing from her employer's bank accounts, the court heard. The victim had marked on her bank statements three withdrawals totalling £60 she had not authorised.

It was only a matter of time before Mrs Cregeen discovered that Bushnell - who had just lost a job at an off licence-had also taken £400 to pay rent and council tax debts, said Mr Glass.

"Was Bushnell literally helping herself to Joyce's money and using it to pay her debts which would lead to her being found out and being held to account?" he asked.

There was no sign of a forced entry at the victim's house which suggested she must have willingly let her killer in or the killer had a key.

"The thefts of money play an absolutely integral part in the story behind Joyce Cregeen's murder," said Mr Glass. "The origin of the murder lies in the relationship between the victim and her murderer and the particular tensions that culminated with one person ending the life of another in such a bloody and gruesome way."

He added: "Mrs Cregeen was by all accounts quite a formidable lady. She was mobile and active and something of a character. "

Her body was found by her hairdresser Pearl Stephenson who arrived at the house for her weekly appointment to find the curtains drawn and no answer at the door.

Letting herself in she climbed the stairs and saw blood. Describing the scene, Mr Glass said: "She saw Joyce lying across the bed. Her body and arms were covered with blood and the bed was heavily stained with blood."

Mrs Cregeen suffered 25 injuries to her heart, lung and liver and defence wounds. The murder weapon, a knife from her kitchen, was found in bushes about 400 yards from the murder scene and halfway to Bushnell's home.

The case continues.