A man accused of murder said he planned to start a new life with the woman he is accused of killing.

Mark Brown, 41, told a court how he was making plans to leave his long-term partner to live with Leah Ware, 33.

Brown is accused of killing Ms Ware and Alexandra Morgan, 34, at Little Bridge Farm near Hastings. He deines both killings.

While being questioned by Ian Henderson KC, defending, Brown said: 

“I was going to leave, obviously, and we were going to get a flat together."

Brown, of Squirrel Close in St Leonards, also denied killing Leah Ware, from Hastings, saying he did not harm "a hair on her head".

The pair are said to have engaged in the affair shortly after meeting on an escort website.

Brown also spoke of searching for violent porn online, some of which he replicated in his relationships.

Asked if he brought any of the material into his relationships, he said: 

“Not really, some BDSM from ages ago but that was more 50 Shades of Grey.

“We played around with it a little bit. It’s bondage and sadomasochism.”

The court also heard how Brown and Ware took cocaine and heroin following the loss of thier unborn child.

The Argus: Leah Ware, Brown's alleged victimLeah Ware, Brown's alleged victim

The termination took place in January 2021 when Leah Ware was living at Little Bridge Farm.

Leah Ware has not been seen alive since may, 2021, but Brown maintains that she is still alive.

Brown is also accused of killing Alex Morgan. The single mum-of-two from Sissinghurst, Kent, was reported missing in November 2021 after failing to return from a weekend away and was last seen filling her car at a petrol station.

He admits being present when Ms Morgan died and disposing of her body by fire.

The trial continues.