A REJECTED lover became “obsessed” with his teenage ex-girlfriend and “stalked” her before killing her, a court heard.

Michael Lane stands trial accused of murdering Shana Grice in her Portslade home.

The 19-year-old’s body was found at the house in Chrisdory Road on Thursday August 25, last year, after she failed to turn up to work at Hove-based wholesaler Palmer and Harvey.

She had been dating Ashley Cooke since 2013 but met Michael Lane in 2015 when they both worked at Brighton Fire Alarms, in Foredown Drive, Portslade, jurors at Lewes Crown Court heard this morning.

They became involved in the summer of that year and she ended her relationship with Mr Cooke in April 2016. Then she and Lane began to date but then on August 23 she told him she wanted to be with Mr Cooke.

Philip Bennetts, prosecuting, said Lane then became “obsessed” with her.

He said: “During their relationship he stalked her. He put a tracker on her car and followed her movements. That obsession with her translated into killing her. He would not allow anyone else to be with her.”

Lane, 27, of Thornhill Rise, Portslade, denies he had anything to do with the killing.

Miss Grice reported Lane to the police for stalking in February last year, the court heard.

Her car had been damaged and Lane was told by officers to stay away from her.

Then Mr Cooke reported damage to his car and found a note left on it which said: “Dear Ash, Shana has always and always will cheat on you. Happy New Year.”

In March he followed her, pulled her phone away from her ear and pulled her hair, Mr Bennetts said.

He said: “He also stole a key from her back door in July when he went to get his belongings. In the early hours of the next morning Miss Grice heard noises and footsteps approaching her bedroom. She hid under her duvet and heard her bedroom door open and a man breathing in her room.

“He remained for about a minute before he left. When she was satisfied he had gone, Miss Grice got up, looked out her bedroom window, and saw Lane walking away from the property.”

Later that day Lane was arrested and he had the back door key on him.

Mr Bennetts said: “He admitted in interview he had taken the key and had gone into her room, this is his account, to talk to her but upon entry realised it was wrong and left. As a result of his behaviour he was cautioned.”

The next day, on July 10, Miss Grice reported receiving around seven calls from a withheld number. Someone was breathing heavily but did not speak.

Lane also followed her while she was driving two days later, the court heard.

After her death police found a tracking device attached to the front bumper of her car. When his home was searched an empty box for a tracking device was found, which matched that found on her car, and a receipt in Lane’s name.

He initially denied putting the tracker on the car but later agreed he had, Mr Bennetts told the court. 

He said: “Lane stated the battery needed charging every ten days and he would go to the car under cover of darkness and remove the tracker and take it home to charge. He would then return the tracker to the car.”

The trial continues...