Billie-Jo 'told of mystery calls'

Murdered teenager Billie-Jo Jenkins had complained of being pestered by suspicious men and receiving mystery phone calls, the Old Bailey was told today.

Her foster family in Hastings suffered one burglary, two attempted break-ins, damage to their home and cars and were worried by prowlers, the jury heard.

Former deputy head Sion Jenkins, 43, and his then wife, Lois, considered moving house because of the problems, the court heard. He has pleaded not guilty to bludgeoning his foster daughter to death at their home in Hastings in 1997.

Billie-Jo, 13, had told friends that on three occasions she had seen a man hanging around the house, the court was told.

The evidence emerged as mother of four Mrs Jenkins was being crossexamined via a video link from a secret location.

Mrs Jenkins said she thought the man had been living nearby and merely parked his car in the same road. She suspected Billie-Jo of being an attention-seeker.

Sion Jenkins today denied a claim that he had kicked Billie-Jo during the months before the murder and said the teenager had merely cried out in pain after putting her weight on an injured ankle.

The case continues.