A VENGEFUL woman lured her former lover to be battered to death by two men with metal bars, a court heard.

Rebecca Ryan “carefully planned” the murder of Michael Beckwith, 44, with another besotted ex-partner of hers and his sidekick, it is claimed.

Ryan, Scott Swift and Joseph Smith are on trial accused of the murder of the carer with Ryan, and two others, also accused of trying to cover up the crime.

Amjad Malik QC, prosecuting, told the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court Mr Beckwith suffered 17 blows to his head, from multiple weapons, and many more to his body in Barrack Lane, Dovercourt, on July 31.

Mr Malik said Mr Beckwith initially survived the “determined and sustained attack” but died 36 hours later on August 2.

Mr Beckwith, of Goodlake Close, Dovercourt, met Ryan when she started working with him at Connolly House Care Home in Weeley early in 2016. The court heard both were already in relationships, him with a woman called Sue Prior, and her with Swift.

Soon after they started seeing each other and got engaged until, according to Mr Malik, Mr Beckwith “changed his mind”.

Accusations and recriminations followed.

The court heard Mr Beckwith, despite breaking off the engagement, still wanted to be with Ryan.

However, Mr Malik claimed Ryan was angry and believed he was still in contact with his ex.

Mr Malik said: “Michael Beckwith was desperate to get back with Ryan, she was not having it, it was revenge she was going to have.”

He told the jury Mr Beckwith was threatened on Facebook by a man he claimed was Swift with the message: ‘You are getting too close to Becky, this is your one and only warning’.”

Speaking about Swift he said: “He was obsessed.

“He wanted her to be his woman.

“He had a sidekick, a 17-year-old. Joe Smith was going to follow him.”

The jury heard Ryan arranged to be picked up by Mr Beckwith so they could talk and told him to drive to the remote location, where unbeknown to him, Swift and Smith were waiting masked and hooded.

Mr Malik said: “That attack was carefully planned by the three defendants.

“There were very specific weapons brought to that location.

“She chose it with these two men.

“This attack had to be carried out without fear of members of the public seeing it.”

He said: “Ryan brought the victim to these two.

“They jumped, they launched their attack uninterrupted.

“They struck him repeatedly, rapidly, a frenzy.

All five deny the charges.

  • The trial continues.

THREE people are on trial accused of the murder of Michael Beckwith.

Scott Swift, 27, of Station Road, Dovercourt, Joseph Smith, 18, of Canning Street, Harwich, and Rebecca Ryan, 22, of Hilltop Rise, Weeley, are charged with murder.

Ryan is also charged with perverting the course of justice.

It is alleged, between July 30 and August 24 last year, she falsely claimed she had also been attacked when the attack on Michael Beckwith took place.

Triston Biddlecombe, 24, and wife Enderlein Biddlecombe, 20, both of East Street, Harwich, both face one count of assisting alleged offenders Swift and Smith.

It is alleged they, between July 30 and August 3 and knowing or believing the pair had committed an offence, washed and burned clothing worn by Swift and Smith with intent to impede their apprehension.

They also face one count of perverting the course of justice by providing a false alibi for Swift.

All five deny the charges they are facing.

The trial is expected to last six weeks.