The jury in the murder trial of an Essex care worker has heard those allegedly responsible plotted the brutal attack by texting in code.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how Rebecca Ryan, 22, referred to her ex-boyfriend Michael Beckwith, 44, as her family’s pet cat Princess on the evening of the attack, which caused Mr Beckwith’s death 36 hours later.

Ryan arranged to meet Mr Beckwith in a remote spot in Harwich where Scott Swift, 27, and Joe Smith, 18, are said to have been waiting with metal bars to launch a frenzied attack on the victim.

Mr Beckwith suffered an estimated 17 blows to the skull, but survived long enough in hospital to discuss the attack with police.

Prosecutor Amjad Malik QC described how Swift and Ryan communicated over text message on the day of the assault on July 31 last year, with Swift asking Ryan to tell him: “when you see the cat”, “remember to feed the cat” and “don’t forget to loose the cat out”.

“It was to let loose a different kind of intended prey, a man,” said the prosecutor.

Mr Beckwith described to police from his hospital bed how he noticed Ryan was texting while he was driving them from Weeley to Harwich, the court heard.

The court heard how Mr Beckwith had reservations but still got out of the car and walked to the end of a track.

Mr Malik said: “Mr Beckwith described how he turned round and saw two dark figures wearing masks covering their nose and mouths. He could only see their eyes. He said ‘I don’t want any trouble’. They merely shrugged their shoulders and then began their attack upon him and he lost consciousness.”

The victim said he thought he saw them holding extendable metal bars.

The court heard how two witnesses, Phillip and Jillian Marven, were walking home on Barrack Lane at 9.45pm and saw a woman, allegedly Ryan, at the street end of the track, next to Harwich County Primary.

The prosecutor said she was walking normally and not screaming or shouting for help and she was holding her mobile, which she put close to her thigh when she saw the couple as if to hide it.

At 9.59pm, Ryan made a 999 call in which she said: “Erm, me and my friend was walking then these two blokes started beating him up.

“I didn’t know them, they was covered up. I couldn’t see them.”

The court heard how Swift went back to the scene of the attack twice to act as support for Ryan, including a visit to an off-licence where he knew the person behind the counter.

“It was all part of his pretence,” said Mr Malik, “when he returned to the scene, he was telling anyone who would listen he had seen a man run off with an iron bar.”

Ryan, of Hilltop Rise, Weeley, Swift, of Station Road, Dovercourt, and Smith, of Canning Street, Harwich, have all pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Beckwith on 2 August last year.

Ryan is further charged with perverting justice by falsely claiming she had also been a victim in the attack on Mr Beckwith.

Also on trial are Triston Biddlecombe, 24, and his wife Enderlein, 20, both of East Street, Harwich, who are charged with assisting an offender - Swift and Smith - by washing and burning clothing they wore during the attack on Mr Beckwith between 30 July and 3 August with the intention of impeding their apprehension and prosecution.

The two Biddlecombes are additionally charged with perverting the course of public justice between 30 July and 24 August by providing police with a false alibi for Swift.

The jury heard how the couple told police Smith and Swift were at their house on July 31 until 9.30pm when Smith left, followed by Swift at 10pm after he had received a call from a female.

Triston Biddlecombe told police when the two men returned to their home at separate times, Smith was sweating and looking agitated, while Swift acted normally.

He told officers Smith went upstairs to take a shower while Swift stayed downstairs playing X-box, and he gave Smith some new clothes to put on because he needed some.

Their washing machine was also seized by police after it appeared to officers that clothes had been washed.

The prosecution said Triston Biddlecombe told police any washing that had been done was as a favour to his friend who had “been having a rough time”.

The court heard how they also held a bonfire on Monday evening, August 1, after telling neighbours the day before that they intended to have one.

After Swift’s mother sent Enderlein Biddlecombe a Facebook message on August 6 apologising “about all the mess”, she replied: “It’s ok, we got in it ourselves. We gave Scott his alibi. Me and Triston are prepared to do whatever it takes to get Scott home.”

The trial continues.