COVERT police officers put Danilo Restivo under surveillance as he watched women in two secluded locations in Bournemouth and behaved strangely, the jury heard.

This happened 18 months after the death of Heather Barnett.

Michael Bowes, QC, said on April 5, 2004, officers saw Restivo drive to the Throop Mill car park on four occasions and observe women.

On May 6, 2004, officers saw him wearing dark clothes with the hood of a jacket pulled tightly around his face so that only his glasses and nose were visible.

A lone female was in the area, the court was told.

On May 11, 2004, Restivo was seen observing females in the Pig Shoot Lane area. He was wearing dark clothing and was seen to change his clothes.

Then on the morning of May 12, 2004, Restivo was again seen in the Pig Shoot Lane area behaving “strangely”, Mr Bowes told the court.

That afternoon, Restivo was seen again in the Throop Mill car par wearing dark clothing and carrying a satchel. “He was wearing strange clothes for a fine day,” said Mr Bowes.

Officers approached Restivo and searched his car. They found a large fillet-type knife and tissues in the bag.

They also found a hooded jacket with a balaclava and gloves in the pocket. Two pairs of scissors were in the driver’s door of the car.

Mr Bowes said this activity was part of a “cumulative picture which establishes him as the person who killed Heather Barnett”.