A man accused of murdering a sex worker allegedly had a "fascination with prostitutes".

A witness told jurors how he was a teenager when Iain Packer took him on "creepy" drives around Glasgow's red-light area.

The man - now in his 40s - earlier claimed Packer left him in tears after punching him because he beat him at cards.

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He was giving evidence at the trial of Packer, 51, who faces a total of 46 charges involving multiple women and includes the murder of 27 year-old Emma Caldwell at Limefield Woods in Biggar, South Lanarkshire on April 5 2005.

The witness told how he first got to know Packer in the early 1990s.

He initially looked up to Packer as he was a bit older and "seemed pretty cool" as he had a car.

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Red light area 

Prosecutor Richard Goddard KC asked the man about any particular places Packer took him.

He recalled the red-light area in Anderston in Glasgow.

Packer was said to have "pointed out prostitutes" and "commented on them".

Mr Goddard asked the witness how long Packer did this, but he said he could not remember.

However, he stated: "At the time I was probably too naive to realise, but he had a fascination with prostitutes, I would say."

The advocate depute said: "How did you come to feel about these trips?"

The man said: "It became creepy. I felt uncomfortable."

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He earlier recalled once allegedly being assaulted when he was around 15 while playing cards with Packer and another boy.

He told jurors: "I had made a comment that I had beat Iain Packer. At that point, he punched me with his right fist. I ran out the room crying."

The trial heard from other sex workers who knew Emma and had also done "business" with Packer.

One was a fellow resident at the Inglefield Hostel in the city's Govanhill where Emma's had been staying before her death.

The woman described being with Packer having been picked up in Glasgow's red-light zone more than once. He had initially introduced himself as "Craig".

It is alleged she was indecently assaulted at various occasions between July 2000 and April 2005.

This witness recalled being taken "different places" by Packer including the city's Pollok Park and "further out".

The court heard of a statement the woman gave to police in 2006.

She told police: "I do not know how he knew these places.

"They were always in the middle of nowhere. I might be able to take you to some of these places.

"One night he took me so far away I was out with him for two hours.

"It was more fields and farms, but not far from the motorway.

"It was the main motorway towards England. I remember dirt tracks and wooded lanes."

She also alleged Packer was physically violent with her including punching the woman and making her choke.

Mr Goddard asked the emotional woman: "Did you want any of this?"

She replied: "No, not at all."

The prosecutor later asked the woman if - after Emma went missing but before her body was found - she had seen as much of Packer.

She replied: "No, but a lot of people you did see coming down stopped because of the higher police presence.

"I did not actually see him again after that, but I had stopped working, so I would not see him."

The trial, before judge Lord Beckett, continues.