A father-of four told a court he was driving to London on the night he was accused of carrying out a frenzied attack which left a girl with 35 stab wounds.

Ian Haywood, 37, is alleged to have attacked the 17-year-old and her 19-year-old boyfriend as they sat in their car at a beauty spot in Ditchling Common. She needed 143 stitches.

Yesterday, Haywood told the Old Bailey jury he had been doing casual driving work that night, which took him to London.

Initially he told police he had been at home.

Unemployed Haywood, of Willow Way, Hurstpierpoint, denies attempted murder, attempted rape, false imprisonment and two offences of attempted robbery on January 18, 2001.

His wife Ann told the court he confessed to the attack after walking in with a blood-soaked knife handle.

His counsel, John Perry, QC, asked Haywood: "Your wife says you confessed to attacking a couple. Did you do any such thing?"

Haywood said: "No."

He also denied her claim he had stripped off his shirt and suit and put them in a bin liner, then used baby wipes to clean the seat of his BMW car.

The trial continues.