The claw-hammer used in a suspected attempted murder has been presented to a jury.

Prosecutor Peter Forbes, who unveiled the weapon at Canterbury Crown Court, dubbed Alexander Weston a "coward".

The 43-year-old is standing trial for the attempted murder of ex-partner Toni Sullivan, who recently began a new relationship.

Weston's barrister Laurence Imrie told the jury his client didn't try to kill the mother to his two children, otherwise he would have used "brutal force".

However, Mr Forbes claims the attack was attempted murder-suicide.

He said: “He inflicted a cowardly and brutal attack on the unsuspecting Toni Sullivan from behind, it was deliberate and it was with malice.

"It is time to bring him to reality and face up to what he has done and call it what it was – attempted murder.

Mr Forbes went on to call language Weston’s language "apocalyptic".

He told the jury: “Consider the language he used, he described (the new relationship) as 'the straw that broke the camel's back'.

"He inflicted a cowardly and brutal attack on the unsuspecting Toni Sullivan from behind, it was deliberate and it was with malice" - prosecutor Peter Forbes

“He wanted her to suffer some form of grief: 'I had this burning desire that I couldn't let things go'. He was talking in apocalyptic terms.

“He says he took the hammer to brandish about and that would show her he had issues.

“It was no coincidence that he took a weapon with him and that he used it - he intended all along to beat her.”

Weston admitted wounding with intent during the early hours of September 4, but denies trying to kill Miss Sullivan at her home in Croft Side, Vigo.

Miss Sullivan was woken by loud banging and her phone showed a missed call from Weston.

Weston, of Church Fields in West Malling smashed the weapon into the back of his 36-year-old ex’s head after she answered the front door, the court heard.

The second blow landed above her right eye causing the mother to his children to “slide down the wall” according to Weston, who struck out three more times.

Miss Sullivan claims she wrestled the hammer, however, Weston said he deliberately dropped the weapon.

His lawyer told the jury: “I’m going to suggest (Weston dropped the weapon) because he didn’t intend to kill her.

“What we know is Miss Sullivan’s injuries were never life threatening.

“When we analyse the evidence there is nothing that can be sure that Mr Weston intended to kill.

“Her injuries can be summarised as this: cuts and bruises. If Mr Weston intended to kill Miss Sullivan why is she not dead? Why did she not suffer serious injuries?

"When we analyse the evidence there is nothing that can be sure that Mr Weston intended to kill" - defence barrister Laurence Imrie

“Mr Weston is bigger and stronger than Miss Sullivan, he was stood over her.

"I’m going to suggest it is because Mr Weston didn’t intend to kill.”

He added: “After hearing the facts in the case you will not like Mr Weston. But that is not enough to convict him.”

When officers located Weston walking along the A227 at 5.40am the same morning, he said he had taken a painkiller overdose, the court heard.

Miss Sullivan, who lives in Croft Side, Vigo, directed police and paramedics to the suspect’s home in Church Fields, West Malling, fearing their children had been killed.

However, police found them asleep near what Mr Forbes described as a “suicide note.”

The handwritten message read: “I’m very sorry I have had to go out and leave you. I’m a rubbish daddy, I can’t cope with you on my own, I love you both so much forever.”

Mr Forbes told the court: “This defendant attempted a murder suicide. He attempted to murder his ex-partner and take his own life.”

The trial continues.