BEN Blakeley has started giving evidence in Oxford Crown Court and denied intending to kill Jayden Parkinson.

The 22-year-old was also asked by his barrister Richard Benson QC if he intended to cause his ex-girlfriend really serious injury and he replied "no".

Blakeley said: "No I didn't mean to hurt Jayden. I thought she was joking."

After this answer Mr Benson asked his client to tell the jury about what his life was like growing up.

Blakeley described often suffering physical abuse at the hands of his father - being tied up and left, beaten and grabbed by the throat - and how aged 11 he went to live in a children's home.

He also admitted being violent, obsessive and controlling towards his previous girlfriends and putting his hands around their throats "to let them know I wasn't f***ing around, I wasn't playing, that's it".

But Blakeley repeatedly denied intending to kill them or cause them really serious harm.

The 22-year-old also denied throwing his former girlfriend Kirsty Penford down the stairs when she was seven months pregnant and threatening to stab her in the stomach. He said the allegations were "total b*******s" and added that he "would never do that to a pregnant bird".

Blakeley said because of his paranoia growing up he slept with a knife under his pillow from when he was nine years old and regularly carried other weapons.

He told the jury he went to the doctor, because he can't even bear to be in a room with someone texting if he doesn't know who they're talking to.

Blakeley admits manslaughter and perverting the course of justice but denies murder.

He is on trial alongside a 17-year-old who admits perverting the course of justice but denies preventing a lawful burial.

The trial continues.

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