Ex-girlfriend who complained to police felt "palmed off", murder trial told

An office co-ordinator who complained to police about her ex-boyfriend harassing her five days before she was allegedly murdered told her flat-mate the call was "palmed off'' and that it had been a "waste of time'', a court heard.

Lance Corporal Trimaan "Harry'' Dhillon, 26, is accused of slashing Alice Ruggles' neck from ear to ear and leaving her to bleed to death in the bathroom of her flat in Gateshead last October.

Police found an Oriental tribal mask in her bedroom, after her housemate Maxine McGill came home to discover her horrifically injured, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The jury has heard how Ms Ruggles contacted police after she split up with the 2 Scots soldier and he continued to contact her, including travelling to Tyneside from barracks outside Edinburgh to knock on her door, tap on her window and leave flowers and chocolates on the sill late at night.

On his drive back he insisted in a voicemail message he did not intend to kill her, jurors were told.

He received an official warning and was told by his commanding officer to stay away, the court heard.

But five days before she was allegedly murdered, obsessed Dhillon sent her a parcel containing a letter, photos and a notebook.

Ms Ruggles rang 101, Ms McGill said, but was unable to speak to the first officer who had originally dealt with her, and discussed it with an operator instead.

Ms McGill, who was also a colleague of Ms Ruggles at Sky in Newcastle, told the court: "She says she felt as if it was palmed off.

"She was asked the question 'what do you want us to do about it?'

She basically says it was just a waste of time.''

"She said 'I don't know, that's why I am phoning you. I was asked to get back in touch if I had any further contact'.

The court has heard she was asked if she wanted Dhillon arrested but she decided not to take that step.

Dhillon denies murder and the case continues.