The partner of a man wanted by murder detectives helped him flee the country, it has been alleged.

Drug dealer Billy Dole had stabbed a man to death and left his body under Rochester Bridge in September 2018.

Then, as officers searched for the killer, he flew to Turkey to avoid being questioned.

And one of two women who helped pay the £197.60 Stansted to Istanbul plane ticket was Dole’s lover Rachel Woods, it was claimed.

Dole then fled from Turkey to Northern Cyprus.

Woods, 32, of Chorister Crescent, Hoo has pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender.

A second woman, Woods’ mother Linda Harris, 56, of School Road, Marshland St James, Wisbech, Norfolk has admitted a similar charge and will be sentenced later.

Prosecutor Tom Godfrey told the jury at Maidstone Crown Court how on September 17, 2018 Peter Beale, from Sittingbourne, made an arrangement to buy drugs from a runner but instead robbed him.

“This action was to have fatal repercussions because the runner immediately telephoned his boss, Billy Dole. Mr Beale was quickly located and was then stabbed to death by Dole.

“The Crown say this was a brutal murder committed in revenge. We know it was murder because earlier this year Dole pleaded guilty to murder."

After the killing, Dole went to the home in Hoo which he shared with Woods.

Mr Godfrey added: “Arrangements were then quickly made for Dole to flee the country.

"Flights were paid for by Rachel Woods and her mother Linda Harris. The bookings were made using Woods’ contact details, her phone number and email address.”

He said it was then that Harris drove Dole to Stansted Airport where he fled to Turkey on a Pegasus Airlines flight.

Mr Godfrey added: “He was able to flee the country and therefore able to evade the police for a very serious crime that he had committed.

“He was able to do that with the assistance of Harris and Woods. They knew Dole had committed a very serious offence. They knew he had killed a man and it was for this reason they helped him escape.

He added: “It is not suggested that either of these women were involved in the murder, however, those who assist offenders should be held accountable for their actions.

Dole, 29, was arrested a week later when he returned to Gatwick.

Woods told the court she was was "heartbroken" when Dole fled the country.

She said the day before had been her birthday but her lover had failed to show up at their £1,500-a-month rented four-bedroom home.

"It was a weird day. He told me he was staying at the home of my friend. He didn't tell me why.

"I thought it was something to do with drugs and somebody was after him."

Woods also claimed she and Dole had been discussing marriage plans.

When he told her he was leaving the country, she was "devastated", she told the jury.

"He just said that he might have to go away and he was going to be OK.

"I was distraught. I was heartbroken. My whole world had collapsed around me."

Dole was arrested a week later at Gatwick and will be sentenced for the murder of Mr Beale at a later date.

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