Bearded pagan Peter Solheim fancied himself as being "hot stuff" and attractive to women, constantly talking about sex, a jury at Truro Crown Court heard.

Fellow pagans Adrian and Ann Bryn-Evans said that Solheim talked frequently about sex, making his partner Margaret James feel uncomfortable.

James, 57, from Porthoustock, is currently on trial charged with killing Peter Solheim, a former Budock parish councillor. She denies murdering Mr Solheim between June 15 and 19, 2004, and conspiracy to murder with others unknown between June 1 and 19, 2004.

Mr Bryn-Evans, who now lives in Somerset and is the district manager for the Pagan Federation for Wessex, said that Solheim, when trying to make an impression, would also tell people: "I make a very good friend but a very bad enemy," declared Mrs Ann Bryn-Evans, a pagan priestess for about 20 years, said she first met Solheim and James at a "moot" or meeting in Tehidy Woods, near Camborne, in May 1999. They became friends, but later Solheim became critical of them.

"I felt Margaret came along to keep Peter happy and to keep an eye on him," she said. "I felt she was not enthusiastic and would rather he wasn't involved."

Asked by prosecutor Sarah Munro, QC, about Solheim's attitude to sex, Mrs Bryn-Evans said he talked about it frequently. "At first it seemed a bit amusing, then I felt there was too much of it. I felt Margaret was uncomfortable when he spoke about other women and how he was very attractive to them. He was boasting, describing himself as hot stuff' and saying that he never had any trouble attracting women."

Questioned by defence counsel Paul Dunkels, QC, the witness agreed that Solheim had got himself banned from some of the "moots" because people were worried about his attitude towards women. After a while they began to feel he was "disturbing and unpleasant."

Solheim, she said, had frightened a mutual friend by going to her home to see her when her husband was out and she was by herself. Solheim had also used his assumed knowledge of the occult to upset people.

Mr Bryn-Evans, wearing black and a pentagon necklace, said that he and his wife lived in Cornwall until February 2004 and he had been the administrator for the Devon and Cornwall practising witches. "We try to live our lives with nature," he said.

He said they held eight celebrations a year when pagans and witches got together and cast a circle. Asked by Miss Munro to explain further, Mr Bryn-Evans replied: "I can't tell you that because you are not a witch. There are certain fundamental aspects of paganism which those who do not take part will not be told. We honour the gods and godesses."

He also assured Miss Munro that it should not involve any violent rituals "we have never practised a violent ritual in our time."

Solheim, he said, was very keen on women and liked to think of himself as a womaniser.

Mr Bryn-Evans agreed with Mr Dunkels that he had told the police Solheim was "quite dislikeable" as he was always setting friends against each other.

Mrs Carolyn Rogers, James' next-door neighbour for many years, said that after Solheim had been found dead Margaret seemed to cope quite well her normal, chatty, cheerful self.

The witness told Mr Dunkels that she had not found Solheim a person she could warm to. He came across as a "know it all," claiming that whatever anyone was talking about he had done it and that he knew the right people to get things done.

He was very proud of his position on the parish council in the sense that he could get things done, but not for the good of the community. The sense of power was important to him.

"I didn't trust him and thought him sly," said Mrs Rogers. "He wasn't someone I would want to have a conversation with, but I did because of Margaret."

The trial continues.