THE landlady of the pub where alleged serial killer Philip Smith is said to have met two of his victims said she used to use him to run errands and drive her around.

June Taylor described to the jury at Leicester Crown Court how Smith, known to regulars and staff at the Rainbow in Digbeth as LaLa or Bigfoot, had bought his Volvo from her partner a couple of months before the alleged killings.

She said on November 8, the day Smith is alleged to have murdered 21-year-old Jodie Hyde, he was due to have collected Mrs Taylor from another pub where she had been celebrating the fact she had been approved as a foster mother.

She spoke to him and asked to be picked up, but said he never arrived.

"I don't think he had ever failed to turn up before," said Mrs Taylor.

And on the night of Rosie Corcoran's death Mrs Taylor had seen Smith talking to her again at the Rainbow pub.

They were seen leaving together, with another man, to carry on drinking at another pub and a club.

Miss Corcoran's battered body was found dumped in an isolated lane in Rashwood, near Droitwich, by the landlord of the Robin Hood pub.

She had been beaten so badly her teeth had come out before she was driven over.

Tyre tracks were found on her body and the pathologist had to piece her jaw back together before he could even begin to identify her.

Smith, aged 36, of Braithwaite Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, denies murdering Miss Hyde, Miss Corcoran and 39-year-old care worker Carol Jordan between November 7 and November 12.

The trial continues.