A former headteacher has admitted murdering his wife and her lover in a frenzied knife attack.

Estranged husband Rhys Hancock killed Helen Hancock, 39, and Martin Griffiths, 48, at the former marital home in Derbyshire on New Year’s Day.

Both victims were found in a bedroom at the detached property in Duffield with multiple stab wounds.

Hancock, 40, admitted both murder charges in a virtual hearing at Derby Crown Court.

A court previously heard how Hancock’s mother called the police to tell them her son had left her address, taking two knives with him.

She explained he had found out on Boxing Day that his wife had been seeing another man and it had caused him “some distress”.

She also told police she was concerned her son was going to do something because he had said he “felt like killing them”.

The defendant’s mother gave the police operator Mrs Hancock’s mobile phone number, but officers were unable to reach her.

Prosecutor Jeanette Stevenson had previously told South Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court that the defendant rang 999 at 4.26am.

Hancock told the police operator he was at the former marital home, that he had murdered his wife and Mr Griffiths, and said the children were safe at his mother’s home.

A police dog handler was first on the scene and ordered Hancock to the floor before arresting him.

Mr Griffiths, a father of two, had already died when the police arrived. Paramedics tried to resuscitate Mrs Hancock, but the PE teacher died at the scene.

Judge Nirmal Shant QC took the unusual step of putting the charges to the defendant herself after problems with the court clerk’s microphone.

Paying tribute to Mrs Hancock, her family said in a statement: “The family are devastated at the loss of Helen, who was a lovely, beautiful, friendly, bubbly and social person.”

Mr Griffiths’s family also paid tribute, saying: “Martin was a lovely dad, husband, son, brother and uncle who had a passion for adventure, running and a love of animals.”

Hancock will be sentenced at a later date.

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