Millionaire on trial for the murder of 'escort'

A millionaire businessman murdered a blonde dancer after paying her up to £10,000 a month to be his exclusive personal escort, a court heard today.

Property developer Peter Morgan, 54, allegedly strangled mum-of-one Georgina Symonds, 25, with a ligature in January 2016.

Married father-of-two Morgan had been in a three-year relationship with Georgina Newport Crown Court was told.

Prosectuor Williams Hughes QC said she worked as a burlesque dancer and later as a high end prostitute.

Mr Hughes said: "The murder of Georgina Symonds was pre-meditated and well planned by Peter Morgan.

"After killing Georgina he went to great lengths to move her and conceal her body and cover his own tracks for some time after the killing itself.

"Peter Morgan was a very successful and wealthy businessman with a large property portfolio.

"He made his money through farming before moving into property development and by his own words was a millionaire many times over."

Newport Crown Court court heard trained beautician Georgina was being paid between £7,000-a-month and £10,000 a month by Morgan.

Morgan, of Llanellen, near Abergavenny, denies murder.

The trial at Newport Crown Court is expected to last three weeks.