A MAN hatched a conspiracy to kill his parents with a friend from Ellesmere Port who he met on the internet, a court heard.

Christopher Monks, 24, of Chorley, Lancashire, wanted his adopted parents, Christopher and Elizabeth Monks dead because they were over-protective and treated him like a child, Preston Crown Court was told.

It is alleged Monks conspired with Shaun Skarnes, 19, of Sutton Way, to murder the pair at the family home.

Richard Watson QC, prosecuting, said: “Monks did not feel able to kill them himself and needed someone else to do it for him.”

The defendants agreed via messages on the MSN instant messenger website for Skarnes to visit the house on February 7 this year while Mr and Mrs Monks were out shopping.

When the couple returned during the afternoon they saw the pair playing computer games together and were unaware that in fact Monks had shown his accomplice thoroughly around the house in preparation for the murders.

Mr Watson said: “Skarnes went through a charade where he pretended to leave.”

In fact, Mr Watson said, he waited nearby so he could return after the couple had gone to bed.

The prosecutor went on: “Monks then let Skarnes back in and provided him with a knife. Rolls of duct tape had been prepared to use as gags.

“The plan was first to kill Mr Monks upstairs and then Mrs Monks, who slept downstairs.

“It was a plan which was interrupted when Mr Monks woke up.”

Skarnes had crept into his bedroom and was standing over him with the knife when he was disturbed, the court heard.

A struggle ensued, the pair grappled on the bed and Mr Monks screamed for help from his wife.

Mrs Monks raised the alarm and then went upstairs where she hit Skarnes with a stick which broke off but she eventually managed to calm him down as she reasoned and talked to him, Mr Watson said.

The jury was told Monks sat in his room downstairs throughout the episode.

Police arrived shortly after and Skarnes was arrested at the scene.

Monks and Skarnes deny conspiracy to murder. The trial continues.