Farmer told lover wife had cancer

Postmistress Jane Wilson was a keen sportswoman

A Cumbrian farmer accused of running his wife over with a tractor told his lover she had died of cancer more than a year earlier, a court has heard.

Postmistress Jane Wilson, 53, was found dead at her farm in Kirkandrews-on-Eden, near Carlisle, on 1 December.

Her husband Robert, 40, who denies murder, is accused of attempting to portray her death as an accident.

His lover told Carlisle Crown Court that when they first met he said his wife had died of lung cancer in 2006.

Kathy McNeil said she was working at a bar in Marbella and began talking to Mr Wilson after she served him a drink.

"He was in Marbella for two or three days to relive the memories of a holiday he had with his wife," she said.

"He said she had died at the beginning of 2006 of lung cancer."

'It's only money'

They later began a relationship, with him visiting her in Spain.

He also took her on a £15,000 holiday to the Maldives to celebrate her birthday.

When she expressed concern about his expenditure, she said he told her: "It's only money, you can't take it with you."

The mother-of-two told the court they had also talked about getting a place in France together and he planned to marry her.

"Bob said he knew he was going to marry me on my 50th. He knew where he was going to propose to me and everything," Mrs McNeil said.

"I said 'You don't know if I'll say yes' and he said 'I'll only ask the once so you better say yes'."

The trial continues.