Murdered Billie-Jo Jenkins "suffered in silence" as she was subjected to violence by her foster father, a jury was told.

She told schoolfriends but did not confide in any adults because she feared her foster parents, Sion and Lois, would lose their jobs, the Old Bailey was told.

Former deputy headteacher Sion Jenkins, 48, denies murdering the 13-year-old schoolgirl on February 15, 1997, and is facing a retrial.

Billie-Jo was battered to death with an iron tent peg as she painted patio doors at the family's home in Lower Park Road, Hastings.

Jenkins, now remarried and living in Lymington, Hants, says he found the teenager with her head covered in blood after returning to the house with two of his daughters.

But Nicholas Hilliard, prosecuting, told the jury of six men and six women yesterday that all the evidence pointed to him being the killer.

He said Billie-Jo had told two schoolfriends, Holly Prior and Laura Jane Conway, similar stories about violent incidents.

Mr Hilliard said: "Holly told Billie-Jo to tell someone but Billie-Jo said no - she was worried Sion would lose his job and Lois would lose hers.

"If Lois had known of his violence against Billie, she would never have worked again in social work and nursing."

Mr Hilliard said Billie-Jo had not told an adult because she could not go back to her natural family and there was little realistic chance of her finding a new one if she returned to a children's home.

Mr Hilliard said: "In truth, she had nowhere else to go. That girl suffered in silence and gave Holly Prior the reason why.

"She was worried that the defendant and Lois Jenkins would lose their jobs."

Jenkins denies the allegations and a further one made by a family friend that he saw him kick Billie-Jo's twisted ankle while on holiday.

Mr Hilliard, in his final speech to the jury, warned against getting carried away with examination of the forensic evidence.

He said: "You have to look at the whole picture.

"There is a very compelling case against the defendant before you get to the science."

He alleged Jenkins had a propensity for violence against Billie-Jo in the past and, according to Mrs Jenkins, was a man who "had rages".

Jenkins was convicted of Billie-Jo's murder at Lewes Crown Court in 1998 and jailed for life.

His conviction was quashed at the second attempt by appeal court judges who ordered a retrial last year.

But an Old Bailey jury failed to agree a verdict in July and was discharged, prompting Jenkins' third trial, which began in November.