A care worker has denied raping and killing a schoolgirl after she “blackmailed” him by threatening to tell her mother he had got her pregnant.

Stephen Nicholson, 25, is accused of repeatedly stabbing 13-year-old Lucy McHugh to the neck and upper body at Southampton Sports Centre before leaving her to die on 25 July last year.

A trial at Winchester Crown Court has heard the defendant was a lodger at the home of Lucy, her mother Stacey White and stepfather Richard Elmes, who was his best friend.

William Mousley QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Nicholson if he acted appropriately with Lucy, who the defendant has described as acting in a “stalkerish” manner towards him by following him around.

He said: “I believe telling her to f*** off and pushing her away from me was too much.”

Lucy McHugh: Man denies raping and killing schoolgirl Show all 7 1 /7 Lucy McHugh: Man denies raping and killing schoolgirl Lucy McHugh: Man denies raping and killing schoolgirl Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Stephen Nicholson at Winchester Crown Court 20 June 2019. Elizabeth Cook/PA Lucy McHugh: Man denies raping and killing schoolgirl Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Stephen Nicholson at Winchester Crown Court 20 June 2019. Elizabeth Cook/PA Lucy McHugh: Man denies raping and killing schoolgirl CCTV image of Lucy McHugh dated 25 July 2018. PA/Hampshire Constabulary Lucy McHugh: Man denies raping and killing schoolgirl Stacey White, mother of Lucy McHugh, arrives at Winchester Crown court. Andrew Matthew/PA Lucy McHugh: Man denies raping and killing schoolgirl Undated handout photo issued by Hampshire Constabulary of Lucy McHugh. The jury at Winchester Crown Court in the trial of Stephen Nicholson accused of the murder of the schoolgirl has been shown CCTV footage of the 13-year-old's final movements. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday June 26, 2019. Carer Nicholson, 25, of no fixed address, is accused of repeatedly stabbing the teenager to the neck and upper body at Southampton Sports Centre before leaving her to die in July last year. See PA story COURTS Southampton. Photo credit should read: Hampshire Constabulary/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Hampshire Constabulary PA/Hampshire Constabulary Lucy McHugh: Man denies raping and killing schoolgirl Undated handout file photo issued by Hampshire Constabulary of Lucy McHugh, also known as Lucy White whose body was found in woodland at Southampton Sports Centre on July 26, 2018. The prosecution is set to open its case at the trial of 25-year-old Stephen Nicholson, accused of the murder of Lucy McHugh and of raping her more than a year before she died. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday June 20, 2019. A panel of jurors has been selected from which 12 will be sworn in before prosecutor William Mousley QC opens the case against Nicholson. See PA story COURTS Southampton. Photo credit should read: Hampshire Constabulary/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Hampshire Constabulary PA/Hampshire Constabulary Lucy McHugh: Man denies raping and killing schoolgirl Winchester Crown Court. Andrew Matthew/PA

Mr Mousley said to him: “Her wanting to be close to you, wanting to be next to you, wanting to be with you, that was the behaviour of a girl who had been having a sexual relationship with you?”

The defendant, who agreed Lucy was “vulnerable”, replied: “There was no sexual relationship.”

Mr Mousley read diary entries written by Lucy dating back to May 2017 in which she said the defendant took her virginity and described the penis piercing he has admitted having.

The note said Mr Nicholson tried to kiss her and asked her if she was a virgin.

She wrote: “I said yes, I kept thinking why wouldn’t I be, I am not a f****** whore.”

Lucy then wrote: “I am not a virgin since 29/30 May. I also smoked and had alcohol.”

Mr Mousley read a letter from Lucy found the day after she died, which said: “To Stephen, I have missed my period for almost two months. To be honest I think I am pregnant.”

The prosecutor asked him if he was concerned when Lucy “blackmailed” him the day before she was killed by asking for money and threatening to tell her mother she was pregnant.

He replied he was “not interested” and added: “I have never slept with anyone underage so I know I am not a paedophile.”

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The defendant has admitted he “soft-choked” women, which involved squeezing their neck during sex.

Another note by Lucy stated: “He grabbed my neck tightly and it sort of hurt this time and I told him and he said good.”

Mr Mousley asked him: “Does that sound like a description of the sort of thing you have done with other females?”

The defendant replied: “That sounds like an assault.”

He added: “I have never had a sexual relationship with Lucy.”

Mr Nicholson is charged with Lucy’s murder as well as three counts of rape against her when she was aged 12.

He also faces a charge of sexual activity with a child against Lucy on multiple occasions when she was aged 13.

Nicholson is also charged with sexual activity with a child in relation to a 14-year-old girl in 2012.

The defendant denies the charges and the trial continues.