Baggage handler, 36, killed his British Airways lover, 58, who was 'totally obsessed with him' in 'fit of rage as he tried to steal cash to feed his drug habit'

A baggage handler killed his British Airways lover who was 'totally obsessed with him,' in a 'fit of rage' as he allegedly tried to steal cash to feed his drug habit, a court has heard.  

Jayesh Gobar, 36, of Crawley, West Sussex, denies murdering 58-year-old Nelly Myers at her £500,000 detached home in Rotherfield, Crowborough, in December last year.

Richard Hearnden, prosecuting, told Hove Crown Court that Mrs Myers, a customer services host at Gatwick Airport, and baggage handler Gobar has embarked on a 'passionate and turbulent,' affair together.

The court heard she had fallen 'deeply in love' and was 'totally obsessed' with Gobar and would try to see him as often as she could. 

But Gobar, who was previously jailed for assaulting the mother-of-two, was 'only interested in her money,' prosecutors allege. 

Gobash was jailed in 2018 for robbing Nelly Myers, 58, but the couple rekindled the relationship, which was described as an 'irregular and turbulent but often passionate acquaintance' 

Jurors heard how Gobar was jailed in 2018 for a violent robbery during which he attacked Mrs Myers in her home, before forcing her to withdraw £50 from her bank account. 

Hove Crown Court heard Gobar had wrapped his hands round her throat and threatened to kill her in the terrifying attack at her home.

He was convicted at Lewes Crown Court and jailed for three years but was released early from his sentence in May 2019.

He was fitted with an ankle tag under condition he did not see or contact Mrs Myers or visit her hometown or the nearby town of Crowborough.

Mr Hearnden said that despite Gobar being ordered to stay away from Mrs Myers, the pair were in contact by phone while he was in prison, and following his release in 2019 they continued their relationship after she sent him a friend request on Facebook.

The prosecutor said: 'Mrs Myers fell in love with Mr Gobar, there is no other way of putting this, she was totally obsessed with him and was devoted to him.

Jayesh Gobar denies murdering British Airways host Nelly Myers in her home, in Rotherfield, Crowborough, in December 2019 

'What they had was an irregular and turbulent but often passionate acquaintance.

'Sexual intimacy happened but was infrequent; while she craved company and attention, he on the other hand seemed to be only interested in her money. 

'She was always giving him cash and he was using that cash for drugs.' 

But the court heard that following morning a violent argument broke out between them and Gobar beat the 'besotted' mother-of-two to death in a violent frenzy in her own home.

She had suffered extensive injuries to her whole upper body including face, arms, neck, chest and head.

Mrs Myers had multiple rib fractures, a fractured eye socket, contusions to her head, bruising to her wrists and arms. She also had a fatal brain injury from a blunt force impact and strangulation injuries.

Mr Hearnden said Mrs Myers was found dead at her home on the evening of December 18 after her son James alerted police.

Officers found her lying partially dressed in the hallway having suffered multiple injuries and Mr Hearnden said a post-mortem examination found that she died of severe head injuries.

She was found lying in the hallway, partially dressed, with her arm resting over her eyes and a vodka bottle lying nearby.

Police officers who were called to the address found her normally tidy three-bedroom detached home had been ransacked.

Drawers had been opened and the contents strewn around, bank statements were discovered lying about and items had been smashed up in the kitchen and bedroom

Forensic officers found that some of the rooms someone had purposefully spat saliva onto the floors.

Mrs Myers' sons were aware of Gobar's drug habit and that he had previously been violent towards their mother, a trial heard today 

The jury was told Gobar was seen leaving the house with a hoodie pulled up and later caught a taxi in the village.

While on the journey back to his home Gobar, who lived with his parents in Crawley, West Sussex repeatedly 'slagged off' his girlfriend, calling her a 'bitch' at least three times.

The taxi driver is said to have protested over Gobar's language, before the alleged murderer tried to pay for the trip with a debit card belonging to Mrs Myers.

When the taxi driver refused to accept it Gobar said he would stop off at an ATM before changing his mind and telling driver, Amar Ali Shah, he would pay with money at his home.

Mr Hearnden said 'Why was he slagging her off? Did he steal the debit card from her while she lay dying in the house?'

The court heard Mrs Myers had two grown-up sons, James and David, and they were aware of the unusual relationship.

James, in particular, knew Gobar had drug dependency issues and had previously been violent towards his mother.

Mrs Myers was found dead at her home on the evening of December 18 after her son James alerted police

Gobar denies murder and claims Mrs Myers was killed after he left the house. 

Mr Hearnden said: 'Mr Gobar was not a professional killer, he killed her in a fit of rage in order to steal from her thereby to feed a drug habit.'

Mr Hearnden said Mrs Myers was born in Lima, Peru, and worked for the South American country's national airline before she met and married British Airways pilot Kevin Myers.

She moved to the UK and had two sons, James and David, and they lived in the family home, 'a suburban-looking detached house' in Crowborough, West Sussex, but lived alone after the marriage ended in 2014.

Nelly Myers was separated from her husband, Kevin Myers, an airline pilot, but not divorced. 

Giving evidence her son, James Myers, said one of his uncles in Peru was a drug addict and there was a 'projection,' from his mother of the situation on Gobar.  

He told the court he asked his mother whether she loved him and on occasion she said she loved him 'but I can't help it.' 

The trial continues.