Man accused of kidnapping and murdering ex-girlfriend in North Yorkshire woodland had become "nasty and vindictive" following split, court hears

A man accused of ambushing his ex-girlfriend on her way to work before killing her in woodland was 'deeply resentful' their relationship was over, a court heard.

Andrew Pearson is on trial accused of kidnapping and murdering 30-year-old cleaner Natalie Harker in woodland in Brough with St Giles near Catterick, North Yorkshire, in the early hours of October 9 last year.

In the second day of the trial at Teesside Crown Court today (Tuesday), prosecutor Alistair MacDonald QC told the jury that Pearson, 45, and his mother had bombarded Ms Harker with "guilt-tripping" messages asking her to take him back after she ended the 18-month relationship.

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The court heard Pearson had posted a "false and sarcastic" message on Facebook following their split, saying Ms Harker had "used" him.

Andrew Pearson is on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Natalie Harker (inset)Andrew Pearson is on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Natalie Harker (inset)
Andrew Pearson is on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Natalie Harker (inset)

Mr MacDonald told the court that the couple had met through Ms Harker's cleaning job at Tesco and that the relationship had at first been a happy one.

This later evolved into one which was unhealthy, the prosecution said, with growing resentment from Ms Harker that her boyfriend did not have a job and a strain on their relationship in the form of both suffering from anxiety and depression.

Ms Harker ended the relationship in August 2019 two months before her alleged murder.

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Mr MacDonald said: "Natalie was happy in her new found freedom.

Andrew Pearson is on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Natalie HarkerAndrew Pearson is on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Natalie Harker
Andrew Pearson is on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Natalie Harker

"The prosecution say the defendant was deeply resentful of her decision to finish the relationship and thought he had been treated grossly unfairly by Natalie.

He added: "He turned nasty, vindictive and deeply resentful, and suggested Natalie had cheated on him...he convinced himself of it without proper evidence, which shows how warped his perspective was of Natalie."

The court heard Ms Harker became fearful of bumping into her ex, and expressed anxiety that he would try to meet her on her journeys to and from work.

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Pearson, of Chestnut Court, is alleged to have pitched a tent in woodland near an industrial estate at Colburn, which was on Ms Harker's route to her job at a local health centre, then laid in wait for her at 4.30am on October 9.

Andrew Pearson is on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Natalie HarkerAndrew Pearson is on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Natalie Harker
Andrew Pearson is on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Natalie Harker

A 999 call was made approximately 12 hours later at 4.38pm by Pearson's mother, claiming her son had been walking with his girlfriend in the woods earlier that morning when she slipped and fell into the stream and was knocked unconscious.

After being passed the phone by his mother, Pearson told the operator he had dragged Ms Harker from the stream and into his tent, giving her CPR, before himself passing out.

Ms Harker's body was found naked under a sleeping bag in his tent after police arrived at the scene. A post-mortem investigation indicated the two had had sexual intercourse, although whether this was before or after her death was inconclusive.

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Mr MacDonald said a message sent from Pearson's phone to a friend in the USA at 3.09pm, when he claims he was unconscious, read: "Goodbye. I've killed Natalie and I'm going to kill myself."

Andrew Pearson is on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Natalie HarkerAndrew Pearson is on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Natalie Harker
Andrew Pearson is on trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Natalie Harker

The message was later deleted and phone records show he had a conversation with the friend lasting 42 minutes and 21 seconds immediately after sending that message.

The prosecutor said: "If the defendant was capable of having a Facetime conversation that lasted 42 minutes, he was capable surely of ringing 999 and trying to get some help.

"Despite the fact the woodland in which his tent was pitched was a rural site, help was at hand. The owner was at hand throughout the day clearing it...he and his colleagues were working a short distance away and using chainsaws which, as we all know, use a loud and carrying noise."

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Mr MacDonald added: "What possible reason did the defendant have to assume [Natalie] would bunk off work that morning? What was this lady doing at 4.45am stopping off to have sex with a man with whom her relationship had finished some weeks before? What was she doing having a walk with him in the woods when it was still before dawn?"

It was also put forward by the prosecution that Ms Harker was "scared of creepy crawlies", barbed wire and dirt.

Andrew Pearson denies charges of kidnapping and murder.

The trial continues.

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