A Yorkshire car dealer was battered to death in his own home in a bungled burglary which his ex-lover helped to plot.

Leeds Crown Court heard this week that, after the raid on January 23, David Ward was found in his bathroom covered in blood with his ankles and wrists bound by belts.

Ward's former girlfriend Stacey Foster had tipped off the robbers that he had up to £20,000 stashed in the house in Wakefield and had amphetamines hidden in the freezer.

Two masked attackers arrived at Ward's house armed with a hammer and screwdriver. Neighbours alerted police after hearing screams in the early hours.

Michael Sharp, of Ossett, admits conspiracy to rob but denies murdering Ward. Ryan Hill, of Lupset, denies both charges. The pair are standing trial at Leeds Crown Court.

The court was told Foster played no part in any plan to kill the trader but had admitted conspiring to rob Ward at a previous hearing.

Christopher Gill, of Wakefield, had also admitted conspiracy to rob at an earlier hearing. He had allegedly driven Hill and Sharp to Ward's home.

Gill and Foster will be sentenced at a later date. The trial of Sharp and Hill continues and is expected to last three weeks.