A TEENAGER smashed her lover's skull in a jealous rage because she believed her partner was having an affair with a man, a court was told.

Divorced mum-of-two Mandy Burton, 30, died three days later following the attack with a blunt weapon by Louise Berry, 19, at the couple's home in Moorgate Street, Mill Hill, Preston Crown Court heard.

Berry denies murder and claims she returned to the house after 9pm on August 11, 2002, to find her partner with the horrific head injuries.

But the jury was played a recording of a 999 call made by a tearful and hysterical Berry four days earlier in which she asked the operator: "Will you come and stop me? I think I am going to kill my girlfriend. I cannot cope. She is having an affair."

Graham Morrow QC, prosecuting, said Berry had the conversation after hitting a friend called John Hollern with a crowbar because his brother Andrew was sitting on Mrs Burton's knee in the garden of their home.

But Berry denies a further charge of actual bodily harm in connection with that alleged incident.

The court heard that Berry and Mrs Burton's relationship was volatile and fuelled by drink.

Mrs Burton, the jury was told, had drunk large quantities of alcohol on a regular basis for a number of years.

Mr Morrow said the couple had many arguments in the month before the death.

Mrs Burton, he added, still liked men and between August 6 and 11, she shared a bed with Andrew Hollern, although it is not clear whether this had a sexual element, the jury was told.

Mr Morrow said this upset Berry, who left home on August 9. She returned the following day, but Mr Morrow said: "They would argue and be abusive to one another. It was a relationship in deep trouble."

Then at 9.19pm the following day, Berry phoned 999 and told the operator that she had come home and found Mrs Burton injured, her skull fractured following five sickening blows.

A ring on the middle finger of her right hand was indented into the skull.

Berry said she had not seen Mrs Burton all day, but the court was told police were able to cast doubt on her story through their inquiries.

Berry later admitted she had been with Mrs Burton until the afternoon and left her in the company of a friend called Stephen Champ.

But Mr Morrow said she was lying and added: "She did the thing she was afraid to do that she mentioned in the first 999 call.

"Mandy Burton was battered to death by Louise Berry."

(Proceeding)