A full-time carer from Bexleyheath has admitted smothering his mother who was bedbound and suffered from dementia.

Kevin Pearce, 59, killed 89-year-old Eileen Pearce in her bed at their home in Bexleyheath on June 5 2021.

Immediately afterwards, he admitted causing her death but later said he had no memory of doing it.

The defendant had denied murdering Mrs Pearce and had been due to face a trial at the Old Bailey in January.

At a hearing on Friday, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility following the completion of psychiatric reports on his mental state.

Prosecutor Michelle Nelson KC said: “In the circumstances and a review, the CPS think it’s appropriate to accept the plea.”

Defence barrister Katy Thorne KC asked that Pearce be given continued conditional bail.

She said: “He has always understood he has been in jeopardy of at least a manslaughter conviction and in those circumstances he has not breached his bail.”

Judge Judy Khan KC granted conditional bail and adjourned sentencing until February 16 with a review hearing on January 15.