MANSFIELD MURDER TRIAL: Alleged murder victim was ‘always proper drunk’, court told

“He was always proper drunk, slow and haggard,” recalled witness Mark Robinson, who knew the 48-year-old well. “He was in a permanent, stupefied state.

“I warned him he wouldn’t see out the year if it carried on. One day, I was walking next to him with a shovel on my back. I pointed to a field and said I would dig a hole for him there and then.”

Mr Robinson used to be the partner of Tina Swift, one of the sisters of Mr Blankert’s girlfriend, Michelle Swift (49), who denies killing the Dutchman.

He also revealed that he twice found Mr Blankert in a coalhouse or outhouse that he referred to as ‘a hole’ at the bottom of the flat he shared on Ladybrook Place, Mansfield, with Swift.

“He had put his mattress down there and looked like he was sleeping off a drinking session,” said Mr Robinson.

“I told him he couldn’t stay there, it was too cold.”

Neighbour Philip Snepsts, who lived two doors down on Ladybrook Place, told the court Mr Blankert would sleep in the outhouse after falling out with Swift.

He said the Dutchman often visited his flat to watch motor racing or football on TV.

“He was a decent guy, a good character,” said Mr Snepsts. “But I saw him with injuries, such as black eyes and a busted nose, on numerous occasions.

“He told me it was Michelle, but also told me not to say anything.”

Tammy Jarvis, who was licensee of the nearby Ladybrook pub until August this year, also told the court how Mr Blankert reluctantly revealed he had been attacked by Swift.

In the summer of 2013, he appeared in the pub with two black eyes and a swollen cheek.

Said Mrs Jarvis: “As a bit of banter, I joked ‘What’s up? Has your missus hit you?’ He said ‘yes’, but didn’t want to talk about it.”

THE TRIAL IS CONTINUING