The last man to admit he saw car dealer Mark Hickman alive has told how his last hours were spent plotting a "good kicking" for a business rival.

Mick Webster, a close friend from Keighley, told Leeds Crown Court how, just days before, the pair had taken photographs of Richard Mears to give to the men who were going to "sort him out".

Then on February 13, 1998, Mr Webster said he dropped Mr Hickman in Queensbury armed with £4,000 in cash and waited as instructed for his return.

But hours later he did not reappear despite Mr Webster's frantic phone calls to his mobile phone. It was hours later he was told by police his friend had been killed.

Mr Hickman was found dead at Bridge Lane, Shelf. His skull, jaw and cheek bones had been fractured, his throat cut and he had been stabbed.

Married father-of-two Mr Webster had known Mr Hickman for six years and had at one time trafficked heroin with him.But Mr Webster said both of them had recently been dealing only in second-hand cars.

He told the court how he and Mr Hickman had visited Mr Mears' firm in Cleckheaton after buying a camera in Dixons, Bradford.

Mr Hickman wanted to hand a picture of Mr Mears to the men he was employing to "sort him out". Mr Webster said he asked Mr Mears about a tyre for his car while Mr Hickman took pictures from the other side of the road.

Mr Webster told the court that the dead man had asked him to "sort out" Mr Mears but he had declined.

So Mr Hickman was introduced to the three accused men: David Deakin senior, 52, and Mark Deakin, 30, both of First Avenue, Windy Bank, Liversedge, and David Deakin junior, 26, of Cliffe Street, Staincliffe, Batley, who all deny the murder charge.

Mr Hickman was described as "a very frightened man" by another friend, Christopher Brett, yesterday who said he was afraid for his life after sleeping with Mr Mears' wife. The hearing continues.

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