A VULNERABLE woman raised the alarm about an “abusive” lodger on the day he allegedly murdered her, a court heard.

Nicola Stevenson told a friend she “hated” Richard Canlin and “wanted him out” of her flat in Lewes.

The 39-year-old had tried to contact the police, and begged a friend to contact the police on her behalf over lodger Richard Canlin, who is accused of killing her.

Her body was found dumped in a wheelie bin off the Landport estate, near where she lived in Stansfield Road.

The Argus:

Nicola Stevenson was found dead in Lewes

Hove Crown Court heard that some of the last messages Nicola had sent were raising the alarm about Canlin.

But after sending messages to pal Nicholas Thomsett, she disappeared on October 10 last year.

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Dog walker Lydia Moody saw a man wheeling the bin onto the Landport recreation ground on October 11 at 6.30am, but assumed it was something to do with the forthcoming Lewes bonfire.

Later in October another dog walker noticed his pet become agitated near the bin, he tried to lift the bin up, but it was too heavy.

The Argus:

The wheelie bin was dumped in undergrowth

Then in early November, workers removing goalposts ahead of the Lewes bonfire noticed the bin, and assumed the terrible smell was because someone had put a dead animal inside.

In the end it was Alex Curly who looked inside the bin on November 13, where a sheet and duvet matching Nicola’s bed was found inside.

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Her body was also wedged-in head first with her knees bent, the court heard.

Nicola suffered from Russell-Silver syndrome, a type of dwarfism, from birth and was vulnerable.

At her murder trial Caroline Carberry QC told the jury that Canlin, 42, had attacked Nicola in a “brutal, frenzied” attack with a claw hammer.

The Argus:

Richard Canlin is accused of murder

Ms Carberry said forensic and DNA evidence showed Canlin was the killer.

It was revealed that Nicola wanted Canlin out because she believed he had stolen her medication.

In a Whatsapp message to another man she wrote: “He’s my step brother only by marriage.

“He wants to be in a relationship with me. I hate him.”

Canlin, 42, of no fixed address, denies murder. The trial continues.