The ex-lover of a man accused of slaying a scaffolder with a kitchen knife texted her former boyfriend on the eve of the attack to say she was sleeping with a meat cleaver under her pillow, a court heard.

Lee Cooper, 25, of Typhoon Way, Wallington, and his father Anthony Cooper, 57, of the same address, are accused of murdering David Stevenson, 28, at the New Inn pub in Sutton on August 9 last year.

At The Old Bailey yesterday the jury heard Mr Cooper's former girlfriend Vicky Shirley – who began a relationship with Mr Stevenson a month before he died – sent a text message to Mr Cooper which said: “Good job I have a meat cleaver under my pillow. x”

Jeremy Dein QC, defence barrister for Anthony Cooper, told the court Miss Shirley had deleted a number of texts from Mr Cooper that night – August 8.

Mr Dein asked Miss Shirley if “there was something going on” between her and Mr Cooper – who still loved her - and alleged she was sleeping with him on the days leading to Mr Stevenson's death.

He also said she was “playing games” with Mr Cooper and alleged she had suggested there was a prospect of the former couple getting back together after he sent her a text in July saying: “I'm so lucky to have had three years with someone like you. It hurts being apart from you.”

Miss Shirley, who is mother to Mr Cooper's two young children, denied all the claims.

She said: “ I wasn't playing games with him [Mr Cooper]. I told him it was over between us.

“No. I did not [sleep with Mr Cooper].

“He's hurt me in so many ways.”

Earlier the court heard how Mr Cooper and his father went to the New Inn pub armed with a meat cleaver and a large kitchen knife about 7.10pm and headed straight for the beer garden where they believed Mr Stevenson was sitting.

He later died in the alleyway. Mr Cooper later handed himself into police and was arrested. His father was arrested the next day, August 10, at his house.

At the Old Bailey yesterday Mr Dein suggested to Miss Shirley that witnesses had discussed what they had seen before being questioned by police.

Mr Dein alleged there “was a feeling amongst David Stevenson's large group of friends that both Lee and Anthony had to take responsibility... and both of them had to go down”.

Miss Shirley said: “I hadn't heard anyone say words to that effect.”

The trial, which is expected to last six weeks, continues.