A teenager who strangled and stabbed a pensioner in the neck is facing life in jail after pleading guilty to her murder.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted killing 88-year-old Margery Gilbey in her care home room in Shadwell.

Mrs Gilbey was found dead by a care assistant at the Sonali Gardens sheltered accommodation in Sutton Street on May 24 this year.

The shaven-headed youth, from Romford, had stabbed and strangled her and ransacked her room.

He changed his plea on the first day of the trial at the Old Bailey on Monday, where a court order banned his identification until he turns 18 this Friday.

The youth will be sentenced on November 8 after defence lawyers have supplied medical evidence.

Judge John Bevan QC said: “The sentence will inevitably be one of detention for life because you have pleaded guilty to murder. I will give you such credit as I can for your plea of guilty.”

He was remanded in custody until sentencing.