A WOMAN found stabbed to death in her home wrote in a diary that her millionaire former husband was being ‘verbally aggressive’ towards her moments before she died, a court heard yesterday.

Sue Workman, 55, was found dead at her farmhouse in rural Turton, on April 7.

Prominent businessman, Ian Workman, is on trial accused of her murder after she suffered a single stab wound to the chest, which had been delivered with ‘severe and considerable force’ and gone straight through her heart.

He denies the offence.

Preston Crown Court heard the couple divorced in December 2010 after 34 years of marriage and prior to Mrs Workman’s death they had been discussing a financial settlement via solicitors.

On the day she died Mrs Workman had made an entry into an electronic diary on her laptop computer stating that her husband was in her home in Plantation Road.

The jury was told he had found the door locked with a key inside the lock stopping him from entering the property.

Once inside the couple argued about the financial settlement and the ownership of the farmhouse before Mr Workman went upstairs to collect some belongings and clothes.

Prosecutor Louise Blackwell said: “He was there to exercise his right to enter the house and persuade her to accept a low financial settlement.

“He was verbally aggressive and he was upset because she had locked the door to the house leaving the key in the lock so that he could not get in. He was incensed.

“She was making notes on what he was doing.”

The court was read a extract from Mrs Workman's last diary entry: “He has come at 13.17 shouting and saying I will pay for what I am doing to him.

“He is upstairs and taking I do not know what but hopefully I will see when he comes downstairs.

“Strokes the dog and leaves then shouting and saying I can’t lock the doors and I said I can when I am on my own. He said that he can come into this house when he wants.”

Mrs Workman then wrote the defendant started to swear at her before continuing: “Standing and staring at me acro...”

The diary entry was never finished and the prosecution claim that Mrs Workman's last word was ‘across’ as the defendant stared at his ex-wife across the central island where she was sat.

Mr Workman, 58, of Vale Street, Turton, is the managing director of the IGW group in Belmont Road, Sharples, the court heard.

The jury was told the couple's separation had split the family and the couple’s eldest son, Grant, had moved out and the middle son, Ben, was abroad at the time of his mother’s death.

Mrs Workman, had contacted solicitors in February 2010 as her finances began to dwindle after supporting herself for almost a year .

The court heard that this resulted in numerous financial court hearings and Mr Workman's assets were freezed.

Two bank accounts were also opened containing £650,000 which could be accessed by both parties.

At the final hearing attended by Mrs Workman in March this year she had requested £1.4million of her husband's £2.5million assets, including the transferral of the family home into her name.

The court heard that Mr Workman also had a certificate of residency in Gibraltar.

Prosecution lawyer, Louise Blackwell, said: “This meant that he could pay tax over there instead of over here and these hearings were undermining this which could result in a massive tax bill.”

Ms Blackwell added: “This diary entry shines a light on which of the parties was angry and what Ian Workman's emotions were before the death of his wife.

“He was used to being in control of everything in his life including her and she was defying him and she was jeopardising his tax position because he had a residence in Gibraltar.

The court heard that after collecting his clothes from the bedroom Mr Workman returned to the kitchen and continued arguing with Mrs Workman.

“He came back down and in anger he picked up the kitchen knife and he stabbed her with it. He pulled the knife out and ten minutes later he called the ambulance.

“But before doing this he cut himself on the belly and arms causing superficial injuries.” said Ms Blackwell.

Detectives were called to the detached farmhouse in Plantation Road at 1.50pm.

Mr Workman, who has run car dealerships in Bolton for more than 35 years, contacted the emergency services.

The trial is expected to last up to ten days with a number of medical and family witnesses taking to the stand.

Mr Workman, founded IGW, a car repair and sales business, when he left school in 1975.

Within 20 years the company had a turnover of £15million and employed about 150 people in outlets across the area.

IGW had franchises for Saab, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Isuzu.

But in 2000 Mr Workman’s business was in administration and he was left with just one site in Belmont Road, Bolton, which he continued to run.

(Proceeding)