A FORMER Ipswich man stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in a Saffron Walden street after she complained to police that he had indecently assaulted her, a court was told.

A FORMER Ipswich man stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in a Saffron Walden street after she complained to police that he had indecently assaulted her, a court was told.

Shop assistant Linda Close, 45, of The Glebe, Saffron Walden, died after the frenzied knife attack just after she had opened up a Spar Supermarket in the town.

Mark Spurling, 41, of Rylstone Way, Saffron Walden, admitted murder and was jailed for life.

Peter Carter QC, prosecuting, told Chelmsford Crown Court the couple met in August last year through a dating agency. He moved into her home in November.

"The relationship began to deteriorate, it blew hot and cold," said Mr Carter. Spurling would sometimes move out for a few days and then go back and try to make another go of it."

Spurling inflicted 14 separate stab wounds about the head, neck, chest and back when Ms Close was opening the Spar Shop where she worked on April 2 after the relationship finally broke down. She was taken to hospital by ambulance but died later from multiple stab wounds.