JOINER Edward Richardson stabbed his estranged wife to death in a "relentless and merciless" attack, a court heard.

The 41-year-old stabbed hairdresser Sarah Richardson 13 times in the chest, back, neck and leg at her parents' home just three weeks after they split up, the jury was told.

Richardson, of Mayfield Road, Biddulph, denies murdering Sarah at a house in Lyndhurst Drive, Brown Lees, on May 12.

Stafford Crown Court heard father-of-two Richardson had driven to Lyndhurst Drive with three knives in his van at 7am knowing 26-year-old Sarah would be off work and alone as her parents had gone to work.

Christopher Hotten QC, prosecuting, said: "The defendant went to the front door, taking one of the knives. Inside, and perhaps asleep, was his wife Sarah.

"We suggest he broke a pane of glass in the door and having broken in, made his way inside.

"He made his way to his wife's bedroom and, we suggest, when he arrived she was in or on the bed. He attacked her with the knife, and his attack on her was relentless and merciless. When the attack was over she was either dead or on the point of death from loss of blood.

"Edward Richardson then left the house, taking the knife with him, got into his van and drove away.."

The court heard the alarm was raised by a papergirl at around 7.30am who saw the damaged front door open. It was discovered Sarah had also suffered 39 knife wounds, the jury heard.

The couple had married in October 2005 after a two-year relationship.

But Mr Hotten QC said the couple had been having relationship problems for 12 months and had separated before.

The court heard Sarah had told friends they still loved each other but "wanted different things".

Mr Hotten QC added: "In the weeks that followed there appeared to be attempts to sort their marriage out.

"But by the weekend before her death Sarah at last appears to have arrived at the decision that the marriage was over."

The jury heard both Sarah and Richardson took cocaine. They were told that days before her death, Richardson had phoned Sarah's mother, Beryl Boote, alleging her daughter was a cocaine addict.

It was also claimed that mobile phone records showed Richardson had sent his wife text messages threatening to show her parents a recording of the two of them having sex.

Mr Hotten QC added: "We suggest her response was to tell her husband to leave her alone. She was upset by the messages and discussed contacting the police."

The trial continues.