A woman told a jury she was too scared to stop her lesbian lover repeatedly stabbing a 13-year old boy "like a sewing machine".

Gemma McGarvie, 18, of South Terrace, Littlehampton, denied she aided her partner, Lorraine Large, stab the victim 23 times in three separate attacks.

Large and McGarvie deny attempted murder and maliciously wounding the boy with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after a party at McGarvie's flat in December last year.

Yesterday, Lewes Crown Court heard how Large, of Foxes Croft, Barnham, picked up two knives, two bottles, a can of lager, and a "Molotov cocktail" petrol bomb before setting out to attack the boy.

The teenager was taken to hospital after the attacks in Littlehampton.

The court heard earlier how McGarvie admitted being present while Large kicked, punched and stabbed the boy but said she did not join in.

The women have blamed each other for the attack.

Richard Anelay QC, prosecuting, put it to McGarvie that Large could not have carried all the items by herself but McGarvie said Large had carried some of them in her belt and denied helping her carry any of them.

Mr Anelay said: "She was going to set fire to him, wasn't she?"

McGarvie told the court she had not known that at the time. She said she hoped somebody would find the boy if he was left out on the street but said she could do nothing to help him because she was scared of Large.

The case continues.