Man killed after 'long-standing grudge' - jury told

Wayne Woodgate was last seen entering a van in October 2024

A man was murdered after a chance encounter with a person he had a "long-standing grudge" with, a jury has been told.

Wayne Woodgate, 54, was last seen entering a van in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on 17 October 2024. His body was found six days later at a rural location in Peasmarsh, East Sussex.

Stephen Castle, 59, from Matfield, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter.

The prosecution told Maidstone Crown Court that Mr Castle took Mr Woodgate in a van to his home address in Kippings Cross, "and once there and when the two of them were alone, Stephen Castle strangled Mr Woodgate and he killed him".

Jurors were shown CCTV of two men meeting in Tunbridge Wells on the day of Mr Woodgate's disappearance.

The court heard how a bystander called 999 as was concerned about seeing Mr Castle swearing at Mr Woodgate and that it did not look like the victim had much choice but to get in the vehicle.

Prosecutors said Mr Woodgate's son, Joseph, had driven to Tunbridge Wells to collect his dad and that it looked like his father was "scared" while speaking to Mr Castle.

Joseph Woodgate was watching the exchange through his rear-view mirror and then glanced down to his mobile phone. When he looked back up both his father and Mr Castle were gone, the court heard.

Mr Woodgate's son explained that he then called his dad who said, "I've got to go and see somebody, they've told me to turn my phone off".

No further phone calls were picked up, the jury was told.

Mr Castle was arrested just before 20:00 BST the same day on suspicion of kidnapping.

The defendant later told police Mr Woodgate was safe when he dropped him off earlier.

Prosecutors allege Mr Castle then went back to conceal Mr Woodgate's body further in undergrowth after he was released on police bail.

The trial continues.