A murder jury have been discharged after failing to agree whether a man deliberately killed his wife during a kinky sex game.

Norman Heaton, 42, strangled mother-of-three Jacqueline Heaton, 32, before hiding her lifeless body under the stairs at their home in Anderson Street, South Shields.

Heaton told police that they had been playing an asphyxiation game but that the neck grip had been too tight and accidentally killed her.

The prosecution claimed Heaton purposely strangled his wife but after almost 10 hours deliberation the jury of ten men and two women failed to decide.

Mr Justice Pitchers discharged the jury from further considerations and the case will be back before Newcastle Crown Court in seven days to decide if Heaton will face a re-trial.