A Birkenhead woman broke down in tears as she admitted murdering a man.

37-year-old Lyndsey McCool was initially too upset to enter her plea to the charge of murdering Jeremy Dickinson but after her barrister spoke to her she pleaded guilty.

Blonde-haired McCool of Whetstone Lane, Tranmere, also admitted stealing property from the victim’s home in Seacombe.

Her QC Ian Unsworth told Liverpool Crown Court: "This was a case in which property was removed from the house of the deceased.

"The basis of the plea is this was not a murder done for gain. Property was removed from the house but not from the body of the deceased."

Nigel Power, QC, prosecuting, said: "The defendant admitted stealing from the deceased.

"There was no evidence that allowed the prosecution to suggest that was a motivation for the murder."

Police discovered Mr Dickinson's body at his home in Albemarle Road at around 12.15pm, on Tuesday, March 28, this year after neighbours raised the alarm.

A post-mortem examination revealed the 57-year-old died as a result of "blunt force trauma" to the head.

Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, further remanded McCool in custody to await sentence on July 17.

Mr Unsworth said a psychiatric report on her would be provided for that hearing.

McCool appeared in the dock alongside Martin Wood, 34, of King Street, Egremont, who was charged with assisting an offender, which he denied.

The prosecution dropped the charge and it was ordered to lie on the file.