FAMILY members of murdered teenager Rebecca Rice left the courtroom in tears today after her killer admitted his guilt.Stuart Adcock, 33 of White House, The Street, Pettistree confessed to murdering his 18-year-old girlfriend when he appeared at Norwich Crown Court yesterday.

FAMILY members of murdered teenager Rebecca Rice left the courtroom in tears today after her killer admitted his guilt.

Stuart Adcock, 33 of White House, The Street, Pettistree confessed to murdering his 18-year-old girlfriend when he appeared at Norwich Crown Court today.

He had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge, but his lawyer, Graham Parkins told Judge Peter Jacobs that he had admitted the killing to put her family's mind at rest.

Mr Parkins said: “He understood the anxiety of the family to know the reality of this case and they now do.”

Adcock, appeared calm and collected during the hearing wearing a white shirt and black suit.

He spoke only to confirm his name, to enter a guilty plea to murder and to confirm that he understood he would next appear at Norwich Crown Court on February 22 when he is due to be sentenced.

Members of Rebecca Rice's family were in court for the plea and some left the courtroom crying.

After the court hearing Mr Parkins confirmed Adcock was currently in good health and had changed his plea following a meeting with his legal team on Thursday in an effort to ease the anxiety of Ms Rice's family.

Miss Rice was found dead at the Pettistree address on August 6 last year.

Police had received a call raising concerns for her welfare and her body was found in the kitchen of the flat she shared with Adcock.