RESIDENT Pete Johnson came face-to-face with Leslie Stubbs as the suspected murderer tried to escape from police through his family's bathroom window.

The 27-year-old was unaware of the death of neighbour Deborah Wilkes when Stubbs entered his Leek home last year.

But the witness saw the tail end of the incident as police arrested the suspect in his family's Morley Street home on August 23.

Mr Johnson was watching television with his parents when Stubbs entered the back of the house at around 7.30pm.

He was confronted by an "obviously drunk" man swigging a bottle of vodka who claimed he was looking for a friend.

When Stubbs was told to leave, he asked if he could use the toilet.

Royal Mail employee Mr Johnson said: "I reluctantly let him go into the bathroom because I knew he was an acquaintance of my dad.

"While he was there, a group of lads turned up at the back gate looking for him.

"They asked if I knew him and I said I didn't, just that I was letting him use the toilet before he left.

"I asked what was going on and one of the lads said he thought he had murdered someone.

"I went to check the bathroom and Stubbs was moving the ornaments from the window and trying to get out.

"Another lad shouted that the police had arrived and they came straight into the house.

"I had to unlock the bathroom door for them then they took him away.

"He was put in handcuffs in the alleyway at the back of our house."

The Johnson house, and parts of the surrounding streets and alleyways, were cordoned off by police.

And the family were not allowed back into their home for more than 24 hours.

Mr Johnson, who was preparing to give evidence at Stubbs's trial, added: "The whole night seems really surreal now.

"It was a surprise to see him in the house, let alone find out what had happened.

"I just thought he was a drunk man who wandered into the wrong house.

"He was very subdued and calm at first – in fact he seemed quite depressed.

"But once there was a disturbance at the back he seemed agitated.

"My dad recognised him from the pub the night before and asked me to get rid of him because he didn't want to talk to him."

Mr Johnson added: "I'm disappointed we'll never get to hear his version of events and he won't be brought to justice."