A MAN said he was going to go on a "murder mission" in a text message to his girlfriend weeks before she, her mother and her baby daughter were killed in a fire at their home, a court heard.

A series of text messages sent by Carl Mills to Kayleigh Buckley between August 28 and 31 last year were shown to the jury at Newport Crown Court.

In one of the texts, he stated: "I’m going to go on a murder mission when I get down there and to be honest I don’t care if I get locked up. At least you won’t see Kimberley, none of you."

Mills, 28, of no fixed abode, is charged with the murder of Kayleigh, 17, her mother Kim Buckley, 46, and her baby daughter Kimberley, six months.

They all died when a fire ripped through their home in Tillsland, Coed Eva, Cwmbran, on September 18, 2012.

Mills denies the charges.

The jury were shown a series of text messages sent by Mills to Kayleigh during that period of time including one stating: "I’ll murder you lot, might as well, I’ll get accused for it."

Another one read: "I’m going to bring my threats out, bye" while further ones stated: "I’ll kill you", and: "Kimberley is dead".

One also stated: "Time’s running out. I’ll definitely get sent down for murder."

In other texts Mills told Kayleigh she would end up with baby Angel - Kayleigh’s stillborn daughter and Kimberley’s twin.

He also threatened to "petrol bomb" her house and told her he was prepared to go to prison.

In other texts sent between September 17 and 18 last year, the evening before the fire, a text sent from Mills to Kayleigh said: "I hate you. I hope you ******* get burnt."

Other texts from this time were also shown which stated: "I’m at your front door now" and "You can hide in a house but you won’t get out."

Proceeding.

Court hears of stab threats

The court also heard from a teenage witness who said Mills had threatened to stab him and that he had said he was going to beat him up and kill him.

The jury were told about messages sent from Mills to the teenager which stated: "I know I’m sick, love stabbing people," while another one stated: "I used to hang around with gangsters so watch what you’re saying."

Under questioning from defence barrister Patrick Harrington QC, the teenager, who had used offensive language in some of his messages to Mills, said he wasn’t frightened of the defendant.

Mr Harrington said: "It’s all pretty childish stuff isn’t it?" to which the witness replied: "Yes."

A forensic report was also read in court which calculated that Mills had between 169mg and 203mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood at the time of the fire.

The report said as Mills was described as "alcohol dependant" he would be expected to have a high degree of tolerance of alcohol.