A WOMAN allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend had told her mother she was “frightened” of him in the months before her death, a court has heard.

Natasha ‘Tasha’ Wake confided in mum Shelley Powell that she had split with Jay Nava after he became “needy”.

Nava, a serving soldier based in Plymouth, had continued to visit Miss Wake and their young son at the family home in Harley Gardens, Bournemouth.

On October 2 2016, the body of Miss Wake was discovered wrapped in a duvet in a cupboard under the stairs. The 26-year-old had been stabbed 11 times.

Nava, who jurors heard attempted to commit suicide at Hengistbury Head on the same day as Miss Wake's body was discovered, was later charged with murder.

A statement written by Mrs Powell, a business development manager at Nationwide in Bournemouth, was read aloud to jurors sitting at Winchester Crown Court yesterday.

She said Miss Wake had called Nava a “nightmare” when he drank alcohol, and as a result, the couple rarely went out.

“She couldn’t take Jay to environments where he could be tempted to drink,” Mrs Powell said.

“If he drank, it was like a switch would flick and he became a different person.”

Mrs Powell said she had repeatedly spoken to Miss Wake about her “volatile” relationship with Nava.

“She told me, ‘I’m frightened of Jay’,” Mrs Powell said.

“I felt she was playing with fire.”

In May 2016, Nava, now 27, learned he was being investigated by police over an alleged sex assault against a woman in Plymouth.

The defendant was informed that he would not be prosecuted in connection with the matter on October 1.

Prosecutors believe Miss Wake died late that night.

In the hours before her death, the young mum texted Mrs Powell an image from the Plymouth Herald that showed CCTV images of Nava as part of a police appeal for information.

She said: “I should have listened to you and I’m sorry.”

Mrs Powell replied: “As long as he drinks, he’s trouble.

“Some deep-rooted issues you can well do without.”

Nava, of MOD Royal Citadel, The Hoe, Plymouth, denies murder.

The trial at Winchester Crown Court continues.