The chef accused of Sally Anne's murder had been on a camping holiday in the days before her killing.

Victoria Chandler told the Old Bailey today how 37-year-old Mark Dixie had joined her and pal Diane Glassborow on a trip to Dymchurch in Kent.

Miss Chandler met Dixie around 2002 when he was a chef at the Earl of Eldon pub in South Croydon.

At that time he had been living with his girlfriend Stacey Nivet in Blenheim Crescent - the same road Sally Anne's dead body was found in on September 25, 2005.

Dixie then moved around pubs including the Jolly Farmer's in Purley before ending up at the Rose and Crown in Crystal Palace.

Miss Chandler told the court Ms Glassborow had invited Dixie on the camping trip the pair had been planning for September 21.

She said: "The more the merrier, I had no problem with that."

The two women slept in a camper van while Dixie slept in a tent.

After finding out it was Dixie's birthday on September 24 the pair shouted Happy Birthday' at midnight but got no response.

On the morning of the 24th all three drove back to South Croydon where they had a drink with friends at the Windsor Castle - now known as the Toby Carvery.

The court had already been told the three later returned to Ms Chandler's home in Avondale Road, South Croydon.

Ms Chandler and Ms Glassborow went to bed at around 2.30am leaving Dixie on a sofa downstairs.

Sally Anne was killed in Blenheim Crescent at around 4am after a frenzied knife attack.

Mark Dixie denies murdering Sally Anne but admits he had sex with her dead body.

The trial continues.

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