Paul Withers found guilty of murdering mother of his children Lauren Masters

Paul Withers stabbed Lauren Masters 23 times after their relationship had broken down and she had a brief relationship with one of his friends.

He did it while their children were in the flat watching television.

The 22-year-old, of David Close, Bexhill, had denied murder but was convicted yesterday (Monday) by jurors at Hove Crown Court after a week-long trial.

Cries of "yes" were heard from the public gallery as the foreman gave the verdict, while Withers buried his head in his hands.

Jurors heard how he attacked Ms Masters with a knife on August 28 last year.

Following the attack, Withers fled after hugging his eldest son and telling him "Be a good boy for mummy and look after your little brother".

Ms Masters then phoned 999 as she bled to death on the floor, pleading with the operator, "Help me. My babies are here".

When police arrived at the property in Sutherland Avenue, Bexhill, Ms Master's eldest son opened the door before turning away from the officers pointing and saying "mummy, mummy."

His one-year-old brother was sat in the living room watching TV.

Withers asked his friend to find him a gun hours before the murder, but told jurors it was because he wanted to kill his friend with whom she had a relationship, not her.

Speaking after the verdict yesterday detective superintendent Mike Ashcroft, who investigated the case, said: "First and foremost my condolences go to to the family and the two young boys who have lost their mother in such horrific circumstances.

"The family have been very dignified throughout the trial, through which they have had to listen to the hideous events which lead to the death of Lauren.

"And if today's verdict in their eyes has brought some justice for Lauren, from my perspective it is the right verdict.

"However, no matter what has happened today the family has still lost a loved one.

"Mr Withers will continue to live, albeit in prison for a number of years, which has brought some justice; however, it does not bring Lauren back for them or her children."

Ms Master's family paid tribute to a "loving and devoted mother."

They added: "She was a bright, happy, caring and friendly young woman, loved by her mother, her sister, grandparents and friends.

"Today's verdict shows what an evil, violent, jealous and controlling person Paul Withers is. He took Lauren's life in the most dreadful way and it is right that he spends his life in prison away from us."

Withers is due to be sentenced this morning (Tuesday) at Hove Crown Court, where he faces a mandatory life sentence.

Judge Christine Laing QC said she considered the presence of the children during the attack and the fact he left Ms Masters to die to be aggravating features.

A CONTROLLING ABUSER WHO PLAYED MIND GAMES

LAUREN Masters and Paul Withers met as teenagers when they both studied at Bexhill College in 2012.

The pair got together and soon started a family, having two sons who lived with Miss Masters in Sutherland Avenue, Bexhill. Withers, now 22, lived with his mother nearby.

Their relationship began to fall apart not long after their second son was born, and a darker side of Withers emerged.

The pair often rowed and in June last year, Miss Masters spoke of his abusive, controlling behaviour.

On June 14 on a Facebook group for young mothers, she told how he had come home from work “in a foul mood”.

“We started arguing and he pushed me and I fell over the sofa,” she said.

“He shouted in my face and wouldn’t let me get up. I have the worst bruises on my leg.

“I don’t know what to do. I have tried telling him to go but he won’t.

“All couples argue right? But it was horrible and I felt so scared. He disgusted me with his behaviour last night.

“He plays mind games and makes me think it’s my fault.”

Family members also recalled his troubling behaviour, with Miss Masters’ mother, Michelle, telling jurors: “In August I noticed problems between them. He was controlling. If she wanted to go out with friends she would have to say she was at a friend’s house. Otherwise he wouldn’t let her out of the flat.

“If she didn’t answer her phone during the evening he would text and phone me in the early hours of the morning.”

Matters escalated on August 1 last year when Miss Masters told Withers she no longer wanted to be with him – and that she had a brief relationship with one of his friends, Jay Emery.

Withers was furious and confronted Mr Emery, trying to beat him up.

He spat at Miss Masters when she tried to intervene and was arrested and cautioned for assault.

It was the first time police had been involved with the couple – and the only time until they were called back to the flat on August 28.

But more than 200 messages every day between the pair from August 1 until August 28 told of the increasing pressure Miss Masters was under.

In one message she told Withers she was going to get a restraining order against him, adding: “Back off and leave me alone.”

On August 28 an “angry and suspicious” Miss Masters and Withers took the children into Hastings to buy shoes.

They argued when they returned to Sunderland Avenue, where Withers grabbed a knife and stabbed her 23 times, including a fatal 12cm gash in the middle of her back. She was 20 years old.

He then hugged his eldest son and ran away before calling police and pretending to be an innocent bystander reporting a disturbance at the flat.

Miss Masters also phoned 999 as she lay bleeding to death on the floor, telling operators: “My babies are here. Help me, I’m going to die.”

Withers denied murder, telling jurors he felt as though he had blacked out during the attack.

He claimed that his attempt to buy a gun hours before the killing was because he wanted to kill his love rival Mr Emery, not the mother of his children.

He held his head in his hands yesterday as he was found guilty of murder, while Lauren’s family paid tribute to the young mother they had lost.

“She did not deserve to suffer and die like she did,” they said.

“Paul Withers should have walked away when she asked him to.

“What happened to Lauren was utterly horrific and has left all who knew her completely heartbroken.

“Today we feel that justice has been served.

“In time we hope that the pain of her passing will lessen and that we can move forward. We will never forget Lauren.

“She will be in our hearts and our thoughts every single day and she will be missed dearly by all who loved her.”