A MAN whose body parts were found dumped around Boscombe had moved in with his alleged murderers before his killing, a court heard.

Simon Shotton had reportedly moved in with Debbie Pereira and Benjamin Atkins in Aylesbury Road following a “disagreement” at his former address.

Pereira, 39, and Atkins, 49, are facing trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of murdering him in August of last year.

On Friday, the court heard how Mr Shotton had been squatting at the former Mon Bijou Hotel in Manor Road, Boscombe following his release in prison in September 2022.

He had served a sentence for possession of drugs with intent to supply them in the Ipswich area, and was on licence and being monitored by the probation service.

Mr Zafar Ali KC, representing Atkins, noted there was evidence that Mr Shotton had smoked crack cocaine while living at the derelict hotel, and had sent texts about the sales of crack cocaine and heroin. 

Probation services officer Amelia Watson confirmed she had visited Mr Shotton at the address on May 26, 2023.

Speaking in court, she described it as a “very run down building” that had been boarded up.

Bournemouth Echo: Forensics at the former Mon Bijou Hotel in Manor RoadForensics at the former Mon Bijou Hotel in Manor Road (Image: NQ)

She said Mr Shotton told her he had an “informal arrangement” with the owner of the building, in which he would stay there and act as “security to deter squatters”.

But according to Lee Guarguaglini, who helped the owner to monitor the building, Mr Shotton was a squatter himself.

Mr Guarguaglini told the jury: “He was ok. He was a decent guy.

"I didn't evict him personally, as time went on, the owner wanted him to go."

He confirmed Mr Shotton had a "disagreement" with the building’s owner, and had been told to leave several times.

It was “three or four weeks” before Mr Shotton died that Mr Guarguaglini realised he had left the building.

Mr Guarguaglini said when he spoke to Mr Shotton over text, he gave his new address as Aylesbury Road – where Pereira and Atkins’ were living.

In her police interview, Pereira noted Mr Shotton had stayed at theirs for two nights, and then in a tent in their garden.

Prosecutors suggest Mr Shotton was killed by both the defendants in the utility room of their flat on the morning of August 18.

Atkins has admitted to charges of perverting the course of justice, and preventing the burial of a corpse, but denies murder.

Pereira denies perverting the course of justice, preventing the burial of a corpse, and murder.