A husband has admitted stabbing his wife to death.

Kenneth Whittaker, 46, of Blenheim Close, Didcot, pleaded guilty at Oxford Crown Court on July 8 to the manslaughter of Stephanie Whittaker.

She suffered numerous stab wounds in the attack on January 5 this year.

The prosecution accepted Whittaker's plea of not guilty to murder on the basis of diminished responsibility. He had been suffering from clinical depression since 1999.

Christopher Kinch, prosecuting, told the court the defendant's mind was impaired by the illness to a substantial degree. He added: "It's never an easy decision in a case of murder. We have taken into account the concerns of the family of the deceased."

He added that there had been no history of domestic violence and alcohol did not seem to have played a significant part.

Whittaker was remanded in custody to be sentenced on July 12.