A man “stalked” his ex-girlfriend before repeatedly stabbing her as she sat in her car at the Dockside Outlet shopping centre in Chatham, a court heard today.

Joshua Stimpson knifed 23-year-old university student Molly McLaren in the head and neck “again and again” as she left Pure Gym, in what a witness described as “like a frenzy”.

The witness, Benjamin Morton, tried to pull Stimpson off as he continued the attack with one of his legs hanging out of the car, but could not do so.

Warning: graphic image below

Mr Morton then tried to shut the door on Stimpson’s leg, but he closed it and continued stabbing Molly, a jury at Maidstone Crown Court was told.

She died soon afterwards. Stimpson, then 25, was covered in blood when police arrived and arrested him.

Now 26, Stimpson, of High Street, Wouldham, Rochester, has admitted manslaughter, claiming he was suffering from diminished responsibility, and denies murder.

But prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC told the jury of seven men and five women: “The prosecution do not accept he was.

"Psychiatrists will be called by the defence and prosecution to assist you in determining whether at the time of the killing he was or was not suffering from diminished responsibility.”

The psychiatrist called by the prosecution, he said, was “clearly of the opinion that he was not”.

Molly, a second year student at the Medway campus of the University of Kent, was first in contact with Stimpson on the dating app Tinder in July 2016 before meeting up the following November.

She decided to end the relationship four months later in March last year. They were apart for a short time but they continued dating until June 17, when she told Stimpson it was over.

“Thereafter, this defendant posted derogatory comments and photographs about Molly on Facebook,” said Mr Bennetts.

Police spoke to Stimpson about it after she reported him, but he continued to do so.

On June 27, he joined Nuffield Gym at Medway Valley Park, where Molly, who lived in Cobham near Gravesend, had applied for a job as a receptionist.

“Whether that was an example of stalking may or may not be true,” said Mr Bennetts. “There are other examples we will come to. This relationship being finished, the defendant would follow her.”

The same day, Stimpson bought the Subatier paring knife which was used to kill Molly from Asda in Chatham. It was later found on the driver’s seat of her car. The box it came from was found at Stimpson’s home.

He also bought a Saxon pickaxe from Homebase in Chatham, which was recovered from his car after the killing.

After the couple separated, he followed Molly. She was at The Ship and Trades pub on St Mary’s Island at Dockside with friends the next day when Stimpson walked past their table.

On the morning of June 29, she went to Pure Gym at Dockside and parked nearby. She was in the gym when Stimpson entered. She asked him: “Are you following me now?”

She texted her mother Jo at 10.45am to tell her: “Mum he’s turned up at the gym and come next to me.” She also phoned her mother. Mrs McLaren told her to go straight home.

Molly went on Whatsapp to contact friends. At 11.02am, she posted: “Feel like I’m ******* looking over my shoulder all the time.”

Mr Bennetts said Stimpson was seen in his father’s Peugeot car driving slowly around the car park. He stopped and reversed slowly.

“This is a man considering what he was going to do,” said Mr Bennetts. “It is not a man screeching his car around. He is taking his time. He is considering what he is going to do.”

After Molly returned to her car, Kodie Jarvis, who witnessed the attack, saw Stimpson drive up, get out of his car and walk quickly towards Molly as she sat in the driver’s seat.

He yanked the door open,” said Mr Bennetts. “Molly started screaming. A man tried to pull Stimpson off. Miss Jarvis called the police.

Benjamin Morton, who had tried to pull off Stimpson, said later: “The male was continuously stabbing the female in the neck and head area, but mainly round the neck. It was like a frenzy. He was doing it again and again.”

Mr Morton tried to intervene. Stimpson’s leg was hanging out of the car. He tried to close the door on his leg.

Stimpson moved his leg inside the car and carried on stabbing Molly. Mr Morton tried to grab his leg but it slipped from his grip.

Covered in blood, Stimpson eventually got out of the car and paced up and down. He stood next to the car and was arrested.

Police, paramedics and a doctor tried to save Molly, but she was pronounced dead at 11.43am.

The prosecutor said Stimpson had an injury to his leg from the car door being closed on it and a hand injury caused when he used the knife to kill Molly.

After his arrest, Stimpson was asked by a mental health nurse if he had been having thoughts about harming Molly and he replied: “Maybe yesterday, but I didn’t act on them.”

"I am scared he might hurt me. I don't know how on edge he is" - Molly McLaren, in a message to a friend

Asked if he had experienced any difficulties with his thoughts, he said: "I must have or I wouldn’t have done this."

When interviewed, he made no comment.

Mr Bennetts detailed a timeline leading up to the killing, with Stimpson pleading with Molly: “Please don’t break up with me.”

The QC said: “The relationship had soured and perhaps the writing was on the wall for the end of the relationship.”

Mr Bennetts said Stimpson claimed he was bipolar, but the prosecution psychiatrist said he very much doubted it.

Stimpson said he had been unwell and went to his doctor. His appearance changed and he was not as tidy as he had been.

He accused Molly of not breaking up with him “more respectfully” after the way he had treated her.

“He was angry she had ended it that night,” said Mr Bennetts.

It appeared he was getting back at Molly by making false claims on Facebook that she was dabbling in cocaine. Molly told a friend: “Josh has turned nasty.”

Stimpson discovered that Molly had blocked him on Facebook. He told a female friend and she said: “Don’t worry, we can stalk from mine if we need to.”

In a message to a friend, Molly said: “I am scared he might hurt me. I don’t know how on edge he is.” The friend asked: “Physically hurt you?” Molly replied: “Yeah. He knows my parents are going away for two weeks. I am going to the police tomorrow.”

Molly complained to the police about Facebook posts and he was warned against doing it.

He then stated: “Molly tried to get me arrested and failed, so I am doing her for defamation of character.”

Molly also complained about Stimpson being manipulative, adding: “He has turned really nasty. He has literally lost the plot. I am worried he would turn up at my house as well.”

The trial continues tomorrow.

Reporter Lynn Cox reported live from the first day of the trial. Here is how it unfolded:

[Live Grid - Trial updates]