A man has pleaded guilty to murdering Charlotte Wilcock in Blackburn. 

In May, Anthony Stinson, 31, of Queen Victoria Street, Blackburn, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Wilcock after her body was found at a property in the town.

Police were called at around 7.55am on March 4 after receiving reports an assault had occurred on the evening of Friday, March 3, in Mill Hill.

A short time later the body of a woman, Ms Wilcock, was found at an address in Primrose Terrace.

Her body was found in the vestibule area of her house, and she had injuries to her head and her throat had been slit.

An investigation was launched and a man from Blackburn, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

On Sunday, March 5, Stinson was charged with murder.

He made his first court appearance at Blackburn Magistrates' Court on Monday, March 6, where brief details of the case were heard, including the nature of Miss Wilcock's injuries, before appearing to enter his plea at Preston Crown Court on May 15.

On Monday, Stinson appeared at Preston Crown Court where he was due to stand trial.

However, after being re-arraigned on one count of murder, Stinson entered a guilty plea. 

Following Miss Wilcock’s death, floral tributes were left outside the property in Primrose Terrace where her body was discovered.

In a statement, her family said: “Charlotte’s death has left us devastated and truly heartbroken.

“There are no words to describe the tragic loss of Charlotte. She was a devoted mother who was loved by many – she was our world, our love and our life.

“Thank you for all the messages of love offering condolences. It shows what a truly magnificent person she was and how she touched so many people’s hearts.

“As a family we are grieving and in shock. The hurt and pain we are suffering is unimaginable.

“We ask for privacy in order to try and come to terms with our loss.”

At the time, three more men – aged 32 and 24 from Blackburn and aged 31 from Clitheroe – were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender but were released under investigation.

Lancashire Police also disclosed it referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in relation to the incident.

Stinson will be sentenced on Thursday.

He was remanded into custody until 10am on August 24.