THE man accused of brutally killing a Chesham barmaid 18 years ago went from one lie to another to cover his tracks, a court heard yesterday.

The Old Bailey heard this week how Jacqueline Poole, who worked at Whispers Nightclub in Station Road, Chesham, was battered, sexually assaulted and killed with a garrotte. A substantial amount of jewellery had been stolen.

Anthony Ruark, 41, now of Cirencester, Gloucestershire, denies murdering the 25-year-old at her flat in Ruislip, West London, in February 1983.

Ruark was arrested and quizzed by police shortly after Mrs Poole's body was found but he was released without charge through lack of evidence.

But last year scientists matched skin and fluid samples taken from Mrs Poole's body at the time to Ruark using the latest developments in forensic testing.

Yesterday Ruark's chilling interview with police investigating the case was reconstructed to jurors.

The London court heard how he told officers he was having sex sessions with Mrs Poole behind their partners' backs. At the time Ruark had a steady girlfriend and Mrs Poole was estranged from her husband and was engaged to marry again.

The court heard how Ruark, a plasterer who lived at Uxbridge at the time, told police he spent the evening of the murder at a pub with friends and did not see Mrs Poole.

But the prosecution claims Ruark attacked, molested and then strangled Mrs Poole with a curtain cord at her flat between 8.45 and 9.15pm.

The case continues.