A FORMER escort girl who hacked her businessman lover to death told a friend she believed she had met the "man of her dreams," a court heard.

Jan Charlton told her friend, identified to a jury at Leeds Crown Court only as Mrs E, that she had met a "fantastic man".

But her attitude towards Danny O'Brien changed and she became very unhappy, the court was told.

Mr O'Brien lived in Holme Terrace, Townsendfold, Rawtenstall, until three years ago.

Charlton told Mrs E that Mr O'Brien was rough with her during sex and she didn't like it.

She confided that "money wasn't an issue" but she wished she had met a binman and fallen in love with him.

The jury has heard that Mr O'Brien, 40, was found at his detached house in Midgley, West Yorkshire, in May 2001, with a large axe embedded in his head,

He was naked and face down in the blood-spattered bedroom of the house which he shared with Charlton, 36.

Mr O'Brien had been hit more than 20 times, the jury has been told.

Former escort girl Charlton has admitted killing him but denies murder.

She says she was acting in lawful self-defence after the former company director threatened to kill both her and her four-year-old daughter. Charlton also claims provocation.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.