Man admits to murder before start of trial

A man has admitted to murdering a 69-year-old man in Lincoln.

John Connolly was found dead inside a house on Portland Street when police were called to the property shortly after 11:30 BST on 18 June last year.

Owen Blades previously denied murder and was due to stand trial at Lincoln Crown Court but pleaded guilty to the charge before a jury was sworn in.

The 26-year-old, of Tennyson Street, Gainsborough, also admitted four other offences including burglary and wounding, which were committed on 13 June. He is due to be sentenced at the same court on 9 January.

Adjourning sentencing, Judge Simon Hirst told Blades: "You have pleaded guilty to of course what are extremely serious offences.

"You know that when I sentence you that I will have to pass a sentence of life imprisonment upon you.

"What I will need help with from counsel is to decide the minimum term you will have to serve before you can be considered for parole."

In addition to the murder charge, Blades also pleaded guilty to burglary at the Portland Street property, possessing an offensive weapon - a knife - in Lincoln High Street, theft of food from a Tesco Express store in Lincoln High Street, and wounding another man, Tyler Baxter, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

He has been remanded in custody until sentencing.

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