I murdered partner and buried him in my garden

Teacher's chilling confession

- MARTIN FRICKER

A PRIMARY school teacher has admitted murdering her boyfriend and burying him in the garden.

Fiona Beal, 50, dramatically changed her plea to guilty yesterday, part-way through a retrial at the Old Bailey. She faces life behind bars.

Beal stabbed Nicholas Billingham, 42, in the neck in November 2021 after luring him to their room for sex and cable-tying him to the bed.

She then wrapped up his body and buried him in the garden in a coffin made from breeze blocks and timber.

The Year 6 teacher also used Nicholas' phone to send messages to his friends and colleagues, claiming the pair had tested positive for Covid-19 and needed to isolate. This gave her time to conceal his body.