A 17-year-old Wirral girl suffered a horrific death after being tied to a tree and brutally tortured by her boyfriend, a court heard today.

The victim, Hannah Windsor, was repeatedly stabbed and slashed by her attacker Adam Lewis.

He also seriously sexually assaulted her during her ordeal at an isolated Wirral beauty spot and the teenager was unable scream for help because of tape over her mouth.

18-year-old Lewis continued to injure her after she had died from a combination of asphyxiation caused by strangulation, the tape over her mouth and a stab wound to her thigh penetrating her femoral vein.

Lewis, who had been camping out on Bidston Hill while on the run from police for breaking into the home of his sister's ex-partner and setting fire to it, then moved her body about 25 metres and buried her in woodland.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that in the view of the pathologist the nature and extent of the injuries Hannah "had been the victim of torture".

Lewis, of Fairmead Road, Moreton, had been due to stand trial today accused of murdering and raping her but he changed his plea to guilty to some of the charges he faced.

He is to be sentenced tomorrow.

He pleaded guilty to murder, two charges of assault by penetration, burglary, and arson. He denied two charges of rape.

Neil Flewitt, QC, prosecuting, told the courtroom, crowded with friends and relatives of Hannah, that at the time of her death in May this year she had been living in a hostel for young homeless adults on Old Chester Road, Birkenhead, after difficulties in her life.

Lewis, who was living with his grandparents, knew her as they had gone to the same school and had similar difficulties and had been going out together for ten months.

Overnight on May 11 he broke into the home of his sister Danielle's ex-partner and as well as stealing various items, including a BB gun, set fire to a settee and a mattress.

He was arrested for those offences on May 18 and released on bail by police who did not know that by that time that Hannah was dead and he was wearing trainers stolen in the raid and which had her blood on, said Mr Flewitt.