A lifeguard died from being stabbed in the back while in bed with his girlfriend, a jury heard.

Harrison Tomkins, 25, was stabbed ten times after spending the night at Alicia Parrin’s in Crawley.

Miss Parrin, 21, told the court in Chichester her ex Kaydon Prior, of Hazelwick Avenue, Crawley, had burst into her room in Arthur Road, Crawley, with his friend Jason Curtis, 22, then ripped the duvet from the bed where she was sleeping with Mr Tomkins and started stabbing him.

A jury heard she had ended a violent and controlling relationship with 23-year-old Prior on Friday, August 11, last year.

Read more: Woman denies new lover and ex-boyfriend fought moments before he was killed

Mr Tomkins was pronounced dead in her flat in the early hours of Sunday, August 13, after they spent their first night together.

Forensic pathologist Dr Ashely Fegan-Earl told the jury there were ten wounds on his body caused by a knife with a single sharp edge and a serrated edge.

One of the wounds on its own would have been fatal, the expert said.

“This is a critical and independently fatal injury,” he said.

“The blade passed through the skin, fat and muscle of the back, striking the aorta - the main blood vessel of the body.

“This would have resulted in critical loss of blood pressure, collapse and subsequent death.”

At least moderate force would have been needed to inflict the ten stab wounds, the expert said.

Although there were no classic defensive wounds to his hands, Dr Fegan-Earl said Harrison tried to protect himself from the knife with his legs.

“Injuries on the legs can be regarded as defensive in nature,” he said.

“More likely than not, the deceased’s right side was protected or obscured at the time of the commencement of the assault, for instance by him lying on the bed.”

The doctor told Charlotte Newell KC, defending, there was no way to tell how long the attack lasted.

“In this case, although there are a number of injuries could it have been just a few seconds?” Ms Newell asked.

“Yes, absolutely,” Dr Fegan-Earl said.

Yesterday, the trial heard Miss Parrin denied the two men fought in her bedroom.

Prior and Curtis deny murder.

The trial at Lewes Crown Court in Chichester continues.