MURIEL Southall and Michael Whitcombe were “touchy feely” and gave the impression they were a married couple, according to a Stourport supermarket check-out assistant.

Heidi Moule gave evidence during the trial of conversations in the summer of 2007, some months before Reginald Southall’s death.

She said she became friendly with Muriel Southall and Whitcombe after recognising their Black Country accents as they stood in a queue to pay.

She thought they were a lovely couple and were married. They were “touchy feely” in the queue, touching hands and brushing against each other.

Whitcombe said they were going for a ride on his motorbike for a picnic and said he was going to “ravish” Southall in a field. He gave her a pat on the bottom.

Later in the year, the witness was walking to work when Whitcombe stopped his car and offered her a lift. Southall got into the back seat.

Mrs Moule asked how long they had been married. There was silence and eventually Whitcombe said: “We are not. We are having an affair.” Southall said nothing.