A JURY has heard a defendant texted his partner to say he wanted to “pave in” his alleged victim hours before he was stabbed in his flat.

The text message was read out at Ipswich Crown Court where Alex Potter, 32, is standing trial for six offences.

He and partner Bibi Stone - who is 38 and denies five offences - were allegedly involved in an incident on Saturday, April 13 which resulted in Lee Jackson being stabbed twice in his flat in St John’s Avenue, Colchester.

Trial - Alex Potter, pictured, denies six offencesTrial - Alex Potter, pictured, denies six offences (Image: Essex Police)

It is said Mr Jackson, 55, had sent threatening text messages to Stone’s mother and friends, and had got his ex-partner to bombard her with messages about £59.99 he said he was owed after he sold Stone a PlayStation.

Under cross-examination from Lucy Sweetland, prosecuting, Potter told the jury he set out to smash Mr Jackson’s windows and “give him a slap”, but did not intend to stab him and that he only did so in self-defence.

The jury was told about a text message Potter sent Stone shortly after 2am on the day of the stabbing which told her he wanted to go round to Mr Jackson’s address and “pave his head in”.

When asked about the text, Potter said: “I didn’t mean it literally.

“I meant give him a slap – that’s what I meant.

“There’s a difference between paving someone’s head in and giving them a slap.”

When Ms Sweetland suggested Potter wanted to “teach Mr Jackson a lesson”, he interrupted: “Not by violently assaulting him, by putting his ****ing windows through – that’s good enough for me.”

The court also heard Stone and Potter had been at a Toby Carvery in Clacton the day before the incident, when Stone received calls demanding that she pay Mr Jackson the £59.99.

When Ms Sweetland suggested that was “the final straw”, Potter replied: “I know what you are trying to get at.

Admission - Bibi Stone has admitted burglary and criminal damage but denies five other offencesAdmission - Bibi Stone has admitted burglary and criminal damage but denies five other offences (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

“No, it was when we got back to Colchester and he kept ringing, ringing, ringing, giving it, giving it, giving it.”

Potter, of Tony Webb Close, Colchester, has admitted criminal damage, but denies aggravated burglary, burglary, and two counts each of wounding with intent and grievous bodily harm.

Stone, of Ship Wharf, Colchester, has admitted burglary and criminal damage, but denies aggravated burglary and two counts each of wounding with intent and grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.