A "jealous" man accused of murdering his girlfriend after she tried to end their relationship has told a court that he "stupidly" grabbed a knife and stabbed her during an argument.

Unemployed Jordan Taylor, 22, drew gasps and tears from those in the public gallery as he described the first stab wounds inflicted on Laura Davies, 21, on July 3 last year.

The court previously heard that the victim suffered at least 80 stab wounds during the attack at the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society base in Pitsea, where she lived and worked as a groom.

The attack was so forceful that the knife used was bent to a 45-degree angle.

Miss Davies, who is thought to have just ended or been on the verge of ending the relationship with "jealous and controlling" Taylor, died at the scene of the attack, which is alleged to have begun in her home before she fled into the street for help.

Taylor, who was born in Carlisle before moving to Annan in Scotland and Swindon in Wiltshire, denies murder.

Giving evidence on the third day of his trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, Taylor said he was only trying to defend himself after his girlfriend of six months lunged at him with the alleged murder weapon.

He told a hushed court that he sensed their relationship was on the rocks, and attempts to talk to Ms Davies were dismissed by her.

Taylor said he tried to talk with her at dinner on the night of her death.

He said: "I was stood in the kitchen facing Laura and she pulled a knife out on me.

"After that we were just looking at each other. We started an argument.

"It was an exchange of words and I was saying 'What are you doing? Calm down'."

Taylor said he swiped at Miss Davies and the knife fell to the floor, so he put it on the counter away from the pair of them.

He said Miss Davies was throwing punches and kicking at him, connecting with his body, as he tried to shield and defend himself.

Asked by defence counsel Vincent Coughlin QC what happened to the knife, trainee security guard Taylor replied: "After I'd been attacked, stupidly I reached back and brandished the knife.

"The first injury (to Miss Davies) was the stomach area, in the kitchen.

"At this stage my mindset was to cause one stab then hope that would stop the situation so the attack would stop.

"I stabbed her in the stomach. I don't know how much force I used."

He said Miss Davies "didn't seem to realise it had happened" and continued her attack.

Taylor, speaking with a Scottish accent, said: "It was as if she was so frenzied that it didn't register."

He told the court he was trying to defend himself but then stabbed Miss Davies again in the stomach.

Ms Davies' reaction, he said, "was exactly the same".

He said: "(My mindset) was just still wanting the situation to stop. I thought that would be it so I could escape and call an ambulance for her."

Miss Davies was pronounced dead in hospital later that day.

The trial continues.