A musician accused of strangling a special needs teacher told doctors he had been having "murderous thoughts about women" since the age of 15, a court heard today.

Graham Coutts was seen by psychiatrists in 1991, 12 years before he was alleged to have murdered Jane Longhurst.

He told them he was "pre-occupied" with the thoughts and feared they may lead to criminal behaviour, an Old Bailey re-trial was told.

Coutts, of Waterloo Street, Hove, East Sussex, denies murdering 31-year-old Miss Longhurst, claiming her death was a tragic accident.

The prosecution alleges that the 39-year-old was having non-consensual sex with her when he killed her to satisfy a "perverted sexual interest".

Today, consultant psychiatrist Dr Larry Culliford said he had seen Coutts in December 1991 after he had been referred by his GP, complaining of having "murderous thoughts about women".

Dr Culliford, reading from his notes, said the patient had said these were "since the age of 15" and were "enjoyable thoughts occurring during sexual arousal".

His notes also said: "Accepts he has a problem and now says these are unwanted thoughts... that they are pre-occupying him to the detriment of his life and may also lead on to criminal behaviour."

The doctor concluded that Coutts required more detailed assessment and referred him to forensic psychiatrists.

The trial continues.