A man has admitted killing a man in a Poundland store but denied his murder.

Trevor Joyce appeared at Oxford Crown Court today where he admitted the manslaughter of Justin Skrebowski on the basis of diminished responsibility.

But the 36-year-old denied murdering Mr Skrebowski by stabbing him in the Poundland in Abingdon on December 7 last year.

Speaking after the hearing Mr Skrebowski's widow Gulsen Alkan said the family was still devastated by his death.

She added: “On my birthday Justin went to Poundland to buy some balloons for our young twins and didn’t come back.

"The children will never see their Daddy again.

"The killing of Justin has left me and my two children with a devastating emotional burden and a daunting financial future which I now have to deal with alone.”

In a statement released today Thames Valley Police revealed that Joyce entered the store in Bury Street at 11.20am and took a knife from the display which he used to stab Mr Skrebowski in the lower back.

It hailed an off-duty police officer for later detaining Joyce and nearby nurses, staff and members of the public who "responded so bravely" after the attack. 

Joyce also admitted making threats to kill Robert Wyatt and Ron Wilkins, attacking Mr Wilkins and threatening people in The Precinct and Bury Street in Abingdon with a carving knife and carving fork.

Prosecutor Alan Blake told the court how after carefully reviewing the psychiatric reports into Joyce's mental state those pleas were acceptable to the the Crown.

He added: "Having performed that careful review we have taken the decision that it's an appropriate case for the Crown to accept the plea that has been tendered."

Joyce, of Franklyn Close, Abingdon, spoke only to confirm his name and pleas, helped by his defence counsel David Hislop QC who stood near the dock.

He was remanded in custody to return to the Central Criminal Courts in London for sentence on June 6 once more psychiatric reports into whether Joyce is a risk to the public.

Oxford Mail: Gulsen Alkan, widow of Justin Skrebowski, presented her petition to the press in Westminster in February

In the aftermath of his death family members described Mr Skrebowski, who lived with his wife Gulsen Alkan (pictured) and their three-year-old twins in North Oxford, as a "deeply caring husband" and a "proud and loving father".

Mrs Alkan, 39, channelled her grief into a petition to make knife sales safer, which secured victory in March when retail giants agreed store knives in safe packaging or behind the counter.

Investigating officer, Det Insp Stuart Blaik from Thames Valley Police's major crime unit, said: “Justin Skrebowski was shopping on his wife’s birthday when he was viciously and fatally attacked by Trevor Joyce.

“This was a completely random and unprovoked attack on an innocent member of the public, which is all the more difficult to comprehend.

“Joyce has pleaded guilty to manslaughter today on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

“This will not bring Justin back or make up for the loss that his heartbroken family have suffered, but I hope that the conviction will give them some small comfort.

“I would like to thank them for their support throughout the investigation and on behalf of the force, I would like to offer my condolences. Our thoughts remain with them at this incredibly difficult and sad time.”

LPA Commander for South and Vale, Supt Rory Freeman, said: “This was a terribly sad incident which shocked the community in Abingdon. I hope that the conviction today reassures the community that a dangerous man is now behind bars.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to members of the public who responded so bravely to the incident at the time, in particular the nurses nearby who helped, Poundland staff and customers and the staff of Santander bank. I would also like to commend the off-duty police officer who, with the support of others, detained Joyce.”