A man accused of murdering his partner during a row over cheating wept as he told a jury he didn't mean to hurt her.

Thomas Allen, is accused of stabbing girlfriend Samantha to death through a broken door panel at a neighbour's house in Elfrida Close, Margate last July.

Today, the 38-year-old told Maidstone Crown Court: "I had no intention of hurting anybody. I never intended to hurt Sam - definitely not.

"I am heartbroken. If I could swap places with her, I would. It's the last thing I think of at night when I go to sleep."

The prosecution told how the kitchen knife penetrated the mum-of-three's leg, severing an artery.

But Allen, who denies murder, said he armed himself with the knife after being attacked by a neighbour, and went to the house where Sam was because he wanted her to return safely.

He denied being jealous because his girlfriend was in the house with another man.

Allen said that as he approached, he could hear arguing coming from within the house.

"I attacked the door," he said.

"I ran up to the door, stepped back and kicked it three times. I meant to kick it open but my foot went through it. My leg got jammed."

After pulling his leg free, he said he couldn't see anybody inside.

"I heard someone shout 'Tom, Tom, go, he's going round the back'," he said.

"I then heard: 'He's got a big weapon, please get in the car'. But I couldn't see because I had been injured and the car's headlights were on. I got into the car."

The prosecution alleges he stabbed his partner through the door, knowing she was there.

Afterwards, he went to an address in West Dumpton where he was told his partner had died.

"I am heartbroken. If I could swap places with her, I would..."

Allen said the two had been together "on and off" for 23 years and had moved into Elfrida Close six months before she died.

"It was far from a perfect relationship and there were rows between us and some years earlier we split up a couple of times," he said.

"I went off with someone and so did Sam."

But three years ago, the couple reunited.

On the night of the incident, he said he overheard something which upset him.

"I heard them (Sam and the neighbours) discussing a distressing incident involving one of my children which upset me," he told the jury.

"I said to Sam: 'You don't know these people. Stop telling them our business'. I was swearing.

"I heard them discussing me being unfaithful. I responded with foul language. I know I was swearing but I can't recall what I said."

The jobless father-of-three told how it had been a "beautiful day" and children had been playing in a paddling pool and trampoline.

He said he had gone to his neighbour's house where adults had gathered in the early evening for a party and people were drinking.

"I went to an off-licence to buy more alcohol at some point in the afternoon," he said.

"I went into my office and Sam and I did a couple of lines of cocaine.

"Everyone was getting a bit drunk, including me. And in the early hours of the 16th I made my way back to my house.

"At some point, neighbour Kaine Blisset and me fought. We had a scuffle. And then me and Sam and [Kaine's partner] Angel went into my house.

"Sam accused me of chatting up Angel and we started arguing about it.

"Then Kaine's partner Angel Blissett had a fit in my front room floor.

"I put her into the recovery position but I never hit her, then I then felt two punches from Kaine and I must have been knocked unconscious.

"When I came around there was blood on the floor. I was bleeding from my head. I was told that I had been bottled but I don't remember.

"I was angry. I went over to [my neighbour's house] and I picked up a kitchen knife from the side.

"I was going over to get Sam out of the house because of what had happened. I didn't think it was safe for her to be there given what had happened to me.

"It was a very dangerous and reckless thing to take a knife. I was angry and upset. I panicked, nervous and angry. I wanted to keep him (Kaine) away. I was stupid but I just wanted to bring her back."

The trial continues.