Bradford prostitute Caroline Creevy was heard screaming "Help me, help me" only hours before she was strangled to death, a jury was told.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Caroline's cries were picked up on her flat's intercom by friend and fellow prostitute Michelle Routledge, also known as Blondie.

The body of Caroline was found in a network of drains near the flat she shared with Kenneth Valentine, in Soho Mills, off Thornton Road. Valentine, 43, denies murdering 25-year-old Caroline.

The jury heard how Blondie, who worked the red-light district of Bradford with Caroline, was calling for her friend on October 30 at 7pm.

Anton Lodge QC, prosecuting, said: "She pressed the buzzer but did not hear a voice.

"All she heard was a woman screaming 'Help me, help me'."

Mr Lodge said Blondie went round the back of the flats and saw a kitchen light on. He said another friend let her into the flats and she knocked on Caroline's door and looked through the letter box, but it looked like no one was there.

Yesterday, on the first day of the three-week trial, the jury also heard that DNA testing showed that Caroline's blood was found on a bed board in the bedroom.

Mr Lodge said: "DNA profiling has given evidence that blood on the bed board had come from Caroline."

Experts also examined blood on a mattress and came to the same conclusion.

The court heard how Valentine was caught on a security camera carrying Caroline's body, wrapped in a rug, from their flat.

Mr Lodge told the jury that fibres from Valentine's donkey jacket matched fibres taken from the rug.

Giving evidence today, Blondie said she spent Sunday evening and Monday with Caroline and a punter who they "entertained" at his house in Holme Wood.

Blondie told the jury she spent a full day on Monday with the punter, unlike Caroline, who he dropped off at her flat in Soho Mills.

She said she then tried to call for Caroline on Tuesday, October 29, at about 7pm.

"Normally someone answers the buzzer and lets you in," she said.

"Instead there was screaming coming over the intercom. It was a female voice and I think they were asking for help."

The jury then heard how Blondie attempted to call for Caroline on Wednesday and Thursday, before reporting her missing to vice-squad officers on the Friday.

Blondie said she next saw Valentine on the Sunday when calling round with her friend Sue, and that she noticed the rug was missing from his flat.

The trial continues.

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