Police were called to the home of a murder suspect just eight days before he is alleged to have beaten to death a love rival.

The call was made by the son of Brian Sharp's ex-lover Samantha Allen, a jury in the Tim Clayton murder trial was told today.

Tristan Allen, a credit controller working for an oil company, told how he had been trying to contact his alcoholic mother all week in November last year.

Eventually one of his calls to her mobile phone was answered by Sharp during an argument the couple were having.

Mr Allen said Sharp was drunk and complaining about his lover, adding: "He was rambling... talking at me rather than to me."

Mr Allen said he heard his mother in the background say: "You've hurt me. Stay away from me, I think you have dislocated my arm," before the line went dead.

He told Canterbury Crown Court: "I was immediately worried and scared. I shouted down the phone to get someone's attention. I immediately rang again."

On the third occasion, he said Mrs Allen answered his call and "whispered: 'I've got to go. I've got to go... he's coming'. I could hear Brian in the background. The phone then went dead. I then called the police."

Eight days later, Sharp, of Manor Road, Folkestone is alleged to have battered to death Tim Clayton, a friend of Mrs Allen while he slept behind a bank at Europa House in Sandgate Road. He has denied murder.

Two police officers were sent to Mrs Allen's home in Castle Hill View, where they found her hiding under a duvet in the bedroom.

PC Brian Goodman told the jury: "I pulled back the duvet and found her. To me she looked frightened."

He said she was talking on her mobile phone to the ambulance control room.

She was taken to hospital where the PC said he saw "grip" bruise marks on her arms and a reddening of the skin around Mrs Allen's throat and neck.

Acting Temporary Sergeant Gary Craig said Sharp "appeared to me to be drunk" and was eventually arrested, handcuffed and taken to the police station.

On November 2, he was questioned and told police: "I didn't touch her. I am not going to admit that I hit her because I didn't. She's lying.

"I didn't strangle her. Didn't touch her. There was a lot of crap going on around there (the flat) between the two of us. She's being vindictive. She's making it all up."

Sharp claimed there had been problems with their relationship during the previous two weeks involving Mr Clayton.

"It's private," he said. "I don't want to talk about it. She's hot and cold. One minute she wants me out... then she's all over me. She's an alcoholic. So am I. I am not ashamed of it.

"She's got this vagrant. He's called Tim and he sleeps at the back of Iceland. She's got a thing. I don't know what it is. He was the lodger.

"I don't think they were having any sex, but I chucked him out.

"I didn't want him there. I said I can't put up with this - it's either him or me. You take your pick. I am going to walk out of this relationship or you are going to chuck him out.

"So she got rid of him, but I think she has got a sweet spot for him. It is what this is about, Tim, to be honest. I find it hard to believe you can be friends with a bloke and not have sex."

The trial continues.