A KILLER has been told he is facing a life sentence for the murder of his ex-wife.

Joseph Iley, 54, stabbed Margaret Iley, 57, repeatedly in the garden of her home in Smillie Road, Horden, County Durham, on February 9.

At the time of the stabbing, Iley was the subject of a restraining order to keep him away from his former wife, who he was married to for 25 years.

The couple had been divorced for 14 years.

Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, Iley, of Emmerson Court, Horden, pleaded guilty to murder.

Paul Sloan QC, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant's conduct on the night in question placed him in clear breach of a restraining order which he was subject.

"The breach of the restraining order, is, of course, a criminal offence in its own right. But the prosecution has taken the view, however, that the breach is really part and parcel of the offence that is charged, the offence of murder.

Barrister Jamie Hill, said in mitigation: "The history between the defendant and his former wife is well documented in the defendant's antecedent history.

"The defendant admits an intention to kill and he admits the factual account given by eye witnesses to the fatal stabbing."

Judge David Hodson adjourning the case until June 15 for a report by a consultant forensic psychiatrist.

Remanding Iley in custody, he warned him: "You must be under no illusion as to what will happen on June 15. There won't be medical disposal, there will be a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment."

The murder of mother-of-two Mrs Iley shocked the close-knit community where she was described as a "lovely woman who kept herself to herself" but always had a cheery smile for everyone she met. She had worked at Walkers Snack Foods factory, in Peterlee, where colleagues said at the time of her death: "She was a popular member of our team and will be greatly missed."

Shortly after her murder, an investigation was launched by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into how Durham Police responded to the incident after members of the victim's family raised questions over the nature of the police response.

A spokesman for the IPCC said yesterday: "The investigative processes are due to be completed in early June, with findings expected to be announced some time in July."

Jobless Iley had been released from prison only months before the murder.

A pet dog which was stabbed in the eye during the murder incident is now recovering. It was confirmed yesterday that in 1994 Iley had been banned from keeping animals for a year after admitting cruelty to a litter of puppies.

In July last year, he was sentenced to 18 weeks in jail for causing unnecessary suffering to a Shetland pony he had tethered by wire at the Pit Head Baths Allotments, in Horden.