A father-of-three was stabbed to death by a former neighbour who made a pass at his girlfriend, a court heard.

Ricky Smith, 21, is accused of murdering welder Matthew Jones, 25, in Churchill Avenue, St Leonards, last August.

Prosecutor Michael Austin-Smith, QC, said: "Mr Jones was drunk and bent on violence and determined to make the defendant fight.

"What he did not know was that the defendant was ready for him. He was armed with a large knife, which he planned to use and did use to inflict a fatal blow."

A jury at Lewes Crown Court heard Smith used to live with his mother next door to Mr Jones in Churchill Avenue.

Mr Austin-Smith said the pair had known each other for a number of years, had been friends and at one stage worked together.

But Mr Jones was suspicious that Smith, of Milward Road, Hastings, was having an affair with his partner Shirley Simpson, the court heard.

Mr Austin-Smith said about a week before the stabbing, Smith had made a pass at Miss Simpson after the pair had been out drinking.

He added: "The defendant admitted he had secret feelings for Miss Simpson but they were entirely unrequited and she was unaware of them. She rebuffed him."

Miss Simpson told Mr Jones about the incident.

Mr Austin-Smith said: "In the following days it became apparent that Mr Jones was stewing away, getting more and more resentful and disturbed at what he regarded as a betrayal on the part of the defendant."

The court heard Mr Jones had longstanding mental health problems. He suffered from mood swings and depression and his body was covered in cuts and bruises from self-inflicted injuries.

On the day he died, Mr Jones was drunk and had gone out looking for Smith to "sort things out", said Mr Austin-Smith. He learnt he was visiting his mother in Churchill Avenue.

Stripped to the waist and armed with a knife, Mr Jones started shouting at the house, demanding Smith come outsideand "get this sorted man to man".

Smith armed himself with a five-inch knife. He stabbed Mr Jones once above the navel and then punched him three times in the face, the court heard. He died from internal bleeding. Smith denies murder. The trial is expected to last for three weeks.