A “POSSESSIVE, controlling” man killed his two girlfriends in their sleep five years apart, claiming they had died in their sleep, a court heard.

Robert Trigg, 52, is accused of murdering 52-year-old Susan Nicholson, whose body was found on a sofa they had both slept on in Rowlands Road, Worthing, on April 17, 2011.

Trigg is also charged with the manslaughter of another former girlfriend, Caroline Devlin, 35, who was found dead in bed on Mother’s Day by one of her children as they went to ask what she wanted for breakfast at home in Cranworth Road, Worthing, on March 26, 2006.

Lewes Crown Court heard a post-mortem examination at the time recorded Ms Devlin’s death as being from natural causes – an aneurysm – although there was “no physical finding” to support the conclusion.

Trigg told emergency services Ms Nicholson died after he accidentally rolled on to her in his sleep while on the sofa – a theory considered “plausible” after the post-mortem held at the time.

Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC said that when viewed in more depth, the circumstances of each death became different and “significant similarities” between each woman’s death emerged.

Ms Devlin was found dead by one of her children who saw her naked body on the bed and assumed she was asleep.

Mr Atkinson said Trigg had left the house but later returned looking “dazed and being weird” before asking one of Ms Devlin’s children to look at their mother.

Trigg, a former chef, of Park Crescent, Worthing, denies murder and manslaughter.

Neighbour and close friend Bridget Benger fought back tears as she told jurors Ms Devlin’s eldest son knocked on her door, telling her: “We can’t wake mummy.”

The case continues.