A "sadistic" killer who strangled a single mother he had met through internet dating before stabbing her as she lay dying is facing life in prison today.
Miles Donnelly, 35, brutally murdered single mother Usha Patel, 44, after meeting her through online dating site Oasis.
Following an exchange of messages, they agreed to meet up for sex, but after stripping naked Donnelly throttled Ms Patel and then stabbed her repeatedly.
Her battered and bloodied body was later found at the home in Melrose Avenue, Willesden, by a neighbour who noticed the front door was ajar.
Ms Patel's five-year-old son, who is autistic, was inside the flat at the time, on October 8 last year.
Donnelly went on the run but after a nationwide police appeal he was captured. He initially pleaded not guilty to murder and an assault the following day. However, this afternoon he changed his plea to guilty to both charges.
Prior to his pleas, David Hislop QC, defending, said Donnelly claimed the murder was not sexual or sadistic.
But Judge Rebecca Poulet QC said: "The injuries are such as to suggest to me a terrible ferocity and I have to say possibly sadistic conduct over and above violence used to kill.
"I'm troubled that the ferocity of the attack does suggest sadistic conduct - in the context of a vulnerable woman voluntarily about to have intercourse and vulnerable in that way, undressed as the defendant clearly was as well."
Donnelly and Ms Patel had been exchanging messages after meeting online, and agreed to meet for a date on the night of the murder.
The court heard Donnelly battered Ms Patel repeatedly over the head, strangled her, and inflicted 16 separate stab wounds to her body.
Police issued an appeal to catch Donnelly after he had fled, and he was arrested within days of the murder.
Judge Poulet remanded him in custody until Thursday, when he will be sentenced to life in prison.
