AN ANDOVER army veteran who was found killed in his home had made a call to his son just days before his death, asking for money to cover drug debts, a court has been told.

Stuart Crocker, 62, was found dead at The Signals, in New Street, on June 28 of last year.

Police investigations found that veteran Mr Crocker might have been killed in the early hours of June 23, but was only discovered five days later when a neighbour phoned 999 concerned for his welfare.

Winter Swan-Miller is on trial at Winchester Crown Court charged with the murder of Mr Crocker.

The trial is now in its fifth week.

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His widow, Jennifer Crocker, gave a witness statement at Winchester Crown Court on Monday, June 24, providing crucial details about their relationship and the days leading up to his death.

They were living separately at the time of his death, but were legally still married.

Mrs Crocker recounted a phone call Mr Crocker had made to their son, Joseph, which she overheard, just days before his death. She said Mr Crocker sounded scared and 'unlike himself'.

“That was the last time I heard from Stuart,” Mrs Crocker said.

She explained that Mr Crocker had called their son to request money to settle a drug debt. 

“I heard the conversation in the background because when Joseph answered it, he put the phone straight on loudspeaker,” she said.

“I heard him asking for money and I said ‘no no no’. Winter then came on the phone and said someone was coming from London to beat him up and recover drug money from him.”

She added that Swan-Miller mentioned her dog had been kidnapped by someone.

“His voice was clear, but he didn’t sound like Stuart. He sounded scared. He wasn’t sounding as confident as he normally would,” she told the court.

Mrs Crocker also provided background information about her relationship with Mr Crocker.

The two met in Andover in 1995 and began living together shortly thereafter.

They got married seven weeks after the birth of their son Joseph.

Although they separated around 2002-2005, they never divorced. Despite their separation, Mrs Crocker spoke fondly of Mr Crocker and said they remained in contact, meeting occasionally for a cigarette or "a cuppa”.

“I used to take him shopping and things. I used to send him food parcels. Sometimes I took it to him or sometimes through my son, but I personally would not go into his flat,” she said.

Mrs Crocker said she met Swan-Miller with Mr Crocker only once in May 2023 outside Tesco, and she noticed he seemed scared.

She said Mr Crocker looked scared because his “whole demeanour” was different.

“It seemed he couldn’t move without moving with her. That wasn’t Stuart,” she said.

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She added that she saw Swan-Miller again a week after the phone call. She was seen again outside Tesco with her dog on her shoulder.

The defence counsel also cross-examined Mrs Crocker on her statement to police that there were two instances of violent behaviour from Mr Crocker towards her during their relationship, which she confirmed.

In 1997, he had an argument on New Year’s Eve and pulled the telephone, hitting her on the back of the head, she said. In 2002, she added, he once hit her in the face.

The trial continues.