Police ‘told man was dangerous before gun killings’

A WOMAN told police she feared her ex-husband was dangerous weeks before he shot her, her mother and a pet dog dead in an execution-style killing with a stolen rifle, a court has heard.

Craig Savage tried to blackmail Michelle Savage to have sex with him one last time after they broke up, threatening to “destroy her life” with revenge porn if she did not agree, the court was told.

When she refused, he uploaded about 1,000 pictures of her naked and in underwear to porn websites, naming her and inviting others to download them, Lewes Crown Court heard yesterday.

Mrs Savage woke on her birthday to find paint thrown over the family’s cars and her tyres slashed. CCTV showed a masked and hooded Savage by the house the night before, throwing something into the driveway, Benjamin Aina QC, prosecuting, told jurors.

A week later, on March 16, he stole a semi-automatic rifle in a robbery and shot the 32-year-old seven times alongside Heather Whitbread, 53, who he shot six times, the court heard.

Mrs Savage’s dog Zeus also died during the incident at Mrs Whitbread’s home in St Leonards, East Sussex.

Savage, 35, is on trial after denying two counts of murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He admits stealing the rifle from the nearby Target 1066 sports range on the day of the shooting.

The court heard he then drove to the house at around 7.40pm, smashing the living room window to get in before standing directly over Mrs Savage who was lying on the floor.

CCTV footage shown to the jury shows Savage walking to the front door before a smashing sound is heard, followed by what appears to be screaming, dogs barking and gunshots.

Three minutes later he emerges with the rifle and walks along the street as armed police arrive.

Savage was also seen by witnesses pointing the gun at a police officer and attempting to shoot. He claims the shooting was a “complete accident” after he tripped and the gun went off accidentally.

He had “no intention” of hurting Mrs Savage but planned to kidnap her so police would shoot him in front of her, jurors were told.

The trial continues today.