A York man has admitted stabbing his first wife in Tyneside while out on licence from a life sentence for murdering his second bride.

Kenneth Milroy, 52, of an unknown York address, was jailed for life in 1995 for strangling his second spouse.

He served nine years behind bars before being released on licence in March this year.

After gaining his freedom Milroy is believed to have attempted a reconciliation with his first wife, Lynne Bell.

But on August 8 this year he stabbed her eight times as she lay sunbathing in her Gateshead garden.

Milroy pleaded guilty to wounding Ms Bell with intent during a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday.

A charge of attempted murder was dropped after he admitted the lesser charge.

The court heard how the couple had exchanged text messages in the week leading up to the stabbing.

Defence barrister Paul Sloan QC said: "There were text messages passing between the parties during the course of the week leading up to this event."

Mr Sloan said he wished to see Ms Bell's telephone and have a chance to read the text messages before Milroy receives an inevitable life sentence.

Mr Sloan said: "It may provide some explanation for what triggered the events on the day in question."

Milroy will be sentenced on November 19 after the preparation of reports. Mr Justice Andrew Smith remanded him in custody.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said Milroy was a York man, but said she could not disclose his former address in the city. Court documents recorded his home as HMP Durham.

Milroy strangled his second wife, Kathleen Milroy, 33, in a late-night row after she refused to leave a pub.

Kathleen was enjoying herself so much she told her husband she wanted to

stay, a judge at Newcastle Crown Court heard in February 1995.

But the couple later argued on their way home and the angry scene ended with the 42-year-old welder forcing his wife into a lane and throttling her.

He told police he had killed her.

Judge Angus Stroyan QC, said the couple's relationship had been stormy and often ended in rows when they had been drinking.

Updated: 09:57 Wednesday, October 27, 2004