Bernadette Walker murder trial: Teen 'crying after sex abuse disclosure'

Bernadette Walker, 17, was last seen on 18 July last year

A teenager was "very upset" and crying after making sexual allegations against her mother's ex-partner, who is accused of her murder, a court heard.

Bernadette Walker, 17, was last seen when Scott Walker, 51, picked her up from his parents' Peterborough home in July and she has not been found.

The wife of Mr Walker's father told the jury Bernadette stayed at their home in the hope that she would "open up".

Mr Walker denies Bernadette's murder and the trial continues.

Bernadette's mother Sarah Walker, 38, is also on trial at Cambridge Crown Court charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice, which she denies.

The teenager's body has not been found and she is presumed dead, jurors have heard.

The court has been told that on 16 July, the photography student told her mother that Mr Walker, who she called "Dad" but was not her biological father, "had been sexually abusing her over a number of years".

Bernadette is presumed dead, prosecutors say

The jury was told Bernadette, also known as Bee, was taken to stay at Mr Walker's parents' house.

Giving evidence, Julie Walker, the wife of Mr Walker's father, was asked "how was Bernadette when Scott Walker dropped her off?".

She said: "Bee was very upset. She was crying. She said that she wanted her mum to believe her.

"I asked Bee what the allegations were, but she couldn't tell me as I was a grandparent.

"Eventually we just changed the subject because it seemed like she wasn't going to say anything else."

Mrs Walker said Bernadette "kept repeating 'I'm not lying'".

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Bernadette fell asleep on the sofa and did not change her clothes in the morning, the court heard.

"Scott phoned and said he was coming to pick her up," Julie Walker said.

She said Bernadette was "very quiet when Scott was there".

Bernadette's body has not been found since she disappeared last summer

The court also heard from a number of Bernadette's friends, who said she had posted on social media about Mr Walker abusing her.

One said she saw the post "just before it was deleted" and on 20 July began to receive messages from Bernadette's mother asking if she had heard from her.

Sarah Walker wrote: "I can't really say what happened for her privacy. But she ran away from home… if you have contact with her can you tell her I love her so much and miss her?"

"I just wanna know she's safe. The police won't report her missing until 72 hours. But I'm going to them tomora [sic]."

The friend then replied: "Sorry, but I haven't heard anything from her. I messaged her three days ago asking if she's OK but she hasn't replied."

Later Sarah messaged her: "The lies she told are massive so I can see why she can't face coming home.

"I wasn't going to say anything but so much of what she said contradicts."

Prosecutors allege Mr Walker killed Bernadette to "prevent her pursuing her allegations of sexual abuse any further".

Mr Walker denies Bernadette's murder on or after 18 July, and four counts of perverting the course of justice.