A FATHER accused of murdering the mother of his children told a court he planned to buy a gun and kill his love rival.

Paul Withers, 22, stabbed Lauren Masters, 20, at least 23 times in August last year as their relationship was breaking down.

In the weeks before her death Lauren had started seeing Withers' life-long best friend Jay Emery.

The night before Lauren's death, Withers had tried to buy a gun, but told the court he did not intend to hurt her.

Giving evidence in his murder trial at Hove Crown Court yesterday Withers, of David Close, Bexhill, who denies murder, said: "I wanted to kill him.

"I was trying to get hold of a gun. I was going to shoot Jay with it.

"I would have waited for him to come home , found wherever he was hanging out, walked up to him and shot him."

When asked by his defence counsel Lewis Powers QC "Did you want to hurt Lauren?" Withers shook his head with tears in his eyes.

Withers said he and Lauren had a row in the kitchen of her flat in Fernleigh Court, Sutherland Avenue, Bexhill. He said he had suggested their boys come to live with him and said she picked up a knife and ran at him.

"I pushed her against the wall. I put my arm across her throat and held the other arm with the knife.

"I was shouting 'you are crazy' she dropped the knife and kicked me.

"I picked up the knife and I went at her with it and I stabbed her.

"That's the bit I remember.

"Before I knew it I'm on top of her. I'd got the knife to her throat. I was covered in blood."

Withers said he then picked up his son and told him 'be a good boy for mummy, look after your brother. I have to go".

Withers then left the flat and called the police using a fake name.

When Mr Powers asked: "Did you know she was dying?"

He replied: "Yes."

Lauren bled to death on her kitchen floor after one of the stab wounds punctured her lung.

The Trial continues.