Husband admits wife's fire death

Christopher Birks will be sentenced on 11 December

A man has admitted killing his wife and then setting fire to their Stoke-on-Trent home to try to cover his tracks.

Christopher Birks, 31, admitted the charge of murdering 27-year-old Amanda in Norton Heights on 18 January.

Det Ch Insp Guy Titchener said Birks had gone to "great lengths" to hide what he had done.

Birks had been due to face a four-week trial at Stafford Crown Court but pleaded guilty on the first day. He will be sentenced on 11 December.

Outside court, Det Ch Insp Titchener said Birks had also endangered the lives of firefighters by telling them his wife needed rescuing from the top floor of the house when she had already been killed.

Amanda Birks was found dead in January

He added: "Our sympathies are very much with Amanda's family, who acted with great dignity throughout the investigation - particularly in its early stages before Birks was charged.

"We hope today's outcome at court will bring them some comfort as they try to rebuild their lives."

The couple ran a satellite television installation firm together in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, and employed 12 people.