Oxford Crown Court heard today (Thursday), how 53-year-old James Crain punched Maurice Batts in the chin after receiving a phone call for help from his daughter Tammey Crain.

Miss Crain, 22, who lives in Springfield Avenue, Banbury, with her father told friends Mr Batts locked her on his canal boat, Tina, and made sexual advances towards her.

Recalling what had been told to her in confidence by her friend, Sarah Bridges said she did not think Miss Crain would ever admit to "nearly getting raped" by a man she called her "second father".

Referring to Mr Batts, 64, as Miller, Mrs Bridges said: "Tammey said Miller locked the doors. He tried to come on to her and was very forceful. She told me he said 'I have always fancied you; I have always wanted to have sex with you'.

"Basically he wanted to sexually rape her but he did not get the chance because her dad got there."

In his evidence the husband of Mrs Bridges, Paul, said Miss Crain also told him Mr Batts had "come onto" her "as if he was going to rape her".

Miss Crain was said to have told Mrs Bridges that Mr Batts had "flung" her phone from her hand as she tried to call her father for help.

Mr Crain then travelled down to the boat, which was moored behind a fence near Southam Road, Banbury, after threatening to kill Mr Batts over the phone.

"She told me her dad climbed over the fence as a protective dad would," said Mrs Bridges.

"He knocked on the door quietly and punched him. Then they both left."

Mr Bridges added: "Tammey said it was one punch but she said she didn't see it. She said she heard a thud a Maurice hit the ground from her dad hitting him. As far as she knew he was alive when they left."

Following Mr Batts's death less than two weeks later, Miss Crain was said to be "surprised" and then began to "panic" about what would happen to herself and her family.

Mr Bridges said: "Tammey said if she was asked by the police she would change her story somehow to keep her dad out of trouble."

During her interview with police, Miss Crain said she had not seen any injuries to Mr Batts the evening prior to the assault, other than "his
chin was a bit red but I didn't know why".

She said Mr Batts had refused to let her leave the boat, but merely because he was concerned for her after she had a row with her boyfriend, Peter Grindle, who he thought may be waiting for her nearby.

Miss Crain said he also took her phone to stop her calling him and told her it would be better to speak to him the following day when they had calmed down. Miss Crain said she remained on the boat until about midnight when she was collected by her mother.

She also said the reason she disposed of her SIM card the day after the assault was because it had previously belonged to Mr Grindle, and not because she was disposing of phone call evidence between herself and her father.

During her police interview she told officers: "A lot of his (Mr Grindle] friends and his ex-girlfriend had this number and I didn't like that."

Following her arrest Miss Crain initially refused to make any further comments, claiming people were trying to "pin" Mr Batts's murder on herself and her father.

When she did begin to speak she tried to blame two other men from Banbury – one of who had been friends with Mr Grindle.

Mr Batts was found collapsed on his canal boat on September 29 last year. He died from severe head injuries in hospital on October 9, thought to have been caused when he fell to the ground following a punch to the face.

Mr Crain is charged with Mr Batts's murder while his daughter is charged with assisting an offender by disposing of a SIM card and giving a false account to police.

The trial continues.