Man in ‘writing mode during murder plot’

A PENSIONER told police he went into “writing mode” when he asked a “terrifying” underworld character to kill his scriptwriter partner of 27 years, a court heard.

Inspired by stories on his Kindle, David Harris, 68, said he trawled “sleazy” East End pubs for help with the synopsis of a novel involving the “hypothetical” murder of Hazel Allinson, who formerly worked on

Retired Harris met fake hitman “Chris” in the car park of Sainsbury’s in Balham, south London, after being introduced by 6ft 3in “man mountain” Zed, to whom he had previously given Ms Allinson’s details.

The court has heard that unknown to Harris then, Zed – real name Duke Dean – had already reported him to City of London Police and “Chris” was really an undercover officer. In transcripts of police interviews read out in court, recovering alcoholic Harris described the events leading up to his arrest following the police sting in November last year.

He said Ms Allinson was his “soulmate” and he owed her his life but he also fell in love with younger woman Ugne Cekaviciute after meeting her in a brothel.

The idea for a “murder mystery thriller” came to him after he was given a Kindle for Christmas two years ago and got “hooked” on thrillers.

He decided to try to write one himself “to earn some money for Hazel to give her some comfort and ease her life”. Harris told police: “I thought if they can do, it why can’t I? I thought I could write a thriller and get some film rights.”

Harris, who lived with Ms Allinson in an £800,000 house in the West Sussex village of Amberley, denies soliciting murder.

The Old Bailey trial continues.