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A warehouse worker stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in a frenzied attack in a shopping centre car park after begging her not to break up with him, a court has heard. Joshua Stimpson met 23-year-old student Molly McLaren on Tinder and they dated for seven months until things turned sour and she ended the relationship, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Just two weeks later he bought a kitchen knife and attacked the university student in her car after she left a gym in Chatham, Kent. The 26-year-old admits manslaughter but denies murder - a plea not accepted by prosecutors.

The court heard Miss McLaren went to Pure Gym in Chatham Retail Outlet on June 29, having parked in the nearby car park.

Soon after, Stimpson also arrived and Molly asked him: 'Are you following me now?'.

The court heard she then sent a text to her mother, Joanne, at 10.45am saying: 'Mum he's turned up at the gym and come next to me'. 

Mrs McLaren then called her daughter and told her to come straight to the family home in Cobham, near Gravesend.

Molly also sent a WhatsApp message to a group of friends at 11.02am saying 'Feel like I'm f***ing looking over my shoulder all the time', the court heard. Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC said CCTV footage showed Stimpson waiting for Molly in his car until she emerged from the gym, and then begin to tail her.

He then left his car, walked quickly to hers and yanked the door open as Molly began screaming.

Stimpson then repeatedly knifed her in the neck and head as she sat in the driver's seat of the small Citroen, the prosecutor said.

A witness to the attack, Benjamin Morton, tried to pull the 26-year-old off his victim as she screamed.

He also tried to close the car door on Stimpson's leg, but he moved inside the car and carried on his attack, the court heard.