A Bushey father has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for strangling his 11-year-old daughter to death.

Judge Gullick handed down term to Simon Thompson at St Albans Crown Court after he admitted manslaughter in relation to the killing of Rebecca.

The Sacred Heart Primary School pupil’s body was discovered at her home in Homefield Road in June and her father was later arrested after being involved in a car crash.

Thompson, 52, initially denied a charge of murder and was due to stand trial this week.

However this morning he changed his plea to admit manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, when he appeared via video link from HMP Bedford.