A sex worker accused of murdering a man has denied being “bait” in a murder plot that revolved around a drug dealing fight.

Rebecca Moore, 25, said she did not know she would be fatally stabbed when she met Sacad Ali, 24, at The Ponderosa in Sheffield on March 9.

Two teenage boys, who cannot be named due to their age, pleaded guilty to murder and possession of an offensive weapon earlier this year.

At Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday, Ms Moore, of Springvale Walk, Sheffield, denied any intention to cause serious injury or death to Mr Ali.

Prosecutor Simon Kealey KC told the jury at an earlier hearing that Ali was fatally attacked by youths “to stop him dealing drugs in their area”.

The court heard Ms Moore arranged a meeting with Mr Ali in the early hours of March 9 to buy crack cocaine.

She said that during the meeting, she sent a text message to the phone line used by the boys, aged 16 and 17, to inform them that Mr Ali was about to leave.

When his lawyer, Mathew Sherratt KC, asked him why he sent this message, he said: “Because they told me that.

“They were my drug dealers and I have to do what they say.”

Ms Moore told the court she noticed other people coming to the Ponderosa when she heard shouting.

“They all started fighting. I was just standing on the side of the road,” he said.

“I saw them all pull out swords, all three of them.”

Ms Moore described feeling “pure shock, fear and panic” before hiding in nearby bushes.

Ms Moore told the jury she did not know what had caused the altercation or how serious Mr Ali’s injuries might have been.

He denied helping organize the attack and said, “I would never do something like that.”

Ms Moore said she saw the boys looking “sketchy” later that morning.

“I asked them what they were doing,” he said.

“I started to realize they were probably the ones in the park.”

The court heard it was alleged Ms Moore had “bragged” about carrying out the attack while in custody at HMP New Hall in Wakefield.

In response, Ms Moore said she told a prisoner that she had not killed Mr Ali.

He said he did not know the boys were going to attack him, did not discuss an attack with them, and did not agree to be “bait to effectively expose Mr. Ali”.

During cross-examination, Mr Kealey KC asked if he would “do anything” when he was “desperate” against drugs because of his addiction.

“I wouldn’t do anything but I would buy some,” Ms. Moore said.

The trial continues.

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