A RESPECTED retired doctor accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill his financial advisor made internet searches for ‘how to kill’ and ‘hiring a real thug’, a court heard.

Dr David Crichton, of Cawdor Road, Bournemouth, allegedly held a five-year vendetta against pensions and personal wealth advisor Andrew Bolden, which culminated in him attempting to hire a hitman through a dark web Chechen mafia website.

Winchester Crown Court yesterday heard that in the weeks before his arrest the 64-year-old made six internet searches for ‘how to kill’, two for ‘mass shootings’ and even searched ‘hire a real thug’.

It was also heard the retired family GP had a ‘serious’ accident in January this year, while out riding his bike, which left him in hospital for ‘some time’.

Crichton began his ‘campaign’ of harassment against Andrew Bolden after believing he had received bad financial advice about his £1.8 million pension pot.

Despite investigations revealing Mr Bolden’s advice had been correct and it was the doctor’s missing of tax deadlines that led to him losing around £300,000 from his pension.

Believing his complaints to Mr Bolden’s company, private banking firm Brown Shipley, and the financial regulator had not been taken seriously, he allegedly started threatening to kill himself if the advisor did not talk to him.

Prosecutor Simon Jones told the court: “Further to the defendant’s iPad being subject to examination, there is the following additional information. On March 11, 2017, the defendant searched the following, mass shootings, two entries, letter bombs, six entries.

“Then ‘send a virus and destroy a company’s reputation, hire a real thug, rent a thug, rent a thug UK’.

“Then on March 12, this is the early hours of the morning, the defendant searched the following: How to kill, six entries, what is the most efficient way to kill someone and not get caught and what would be the fastest and most efficient way to kill someone, two entries.

“Moving on to March 19, 2017, he again searched how to kill someone.”

The court heard on March 19, Crichton had also searched ‘how to hire a hit on yourself’, which was followed straight after by a search for washing machines on department store John Lewis’ website.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Neil Jones said a large number of Crichton’s internet searches related to suicide, particularly in Lewis, Scotland.

DC Jones, of Dorset Police, said: “As far as I am aware, he is originally from Scotland. He certainly knows Scotland well.”

The court also heard Crichton had been involved in a ‘serious’ accident in January this year, which left him fighting for life in hospital.

Crichton was rushed to intensive care after the bicycle he was riding collided with a grey Volkswagen Golf on January 11.

DC Jones also told jurors that during his investigation, Crichton would send him emails and make telephone calls.

He said: “He sent me a number of emails and made telephone calls. He was always polite. It is unusual to have a suspect contact you directly.”

Crichton denies one count of attempting to solicit a murder and three of sending malicious communications.

Earlier, the court heard Dr Crichton’s alleged actions were discovered by officers with the National Crime Agency who had been monitoring a dark web page called “Crime Bay by Chechen Mob” and found the order made for a hitman to kill Mr Bolden.

Prosecutor Simon Jones said the defendant had used a special browser on his computer and created an account on the website before he selected murder from the menu.

Other options offered by the hitmen included “beat the s*** out of him”, “set his car on fire”, and “set his house on fire”.

The trial continues next week.