A MAN accused of deliberately strangling his wife during a sex game was found with a hate-filled letter for her when he was arrested, a court heard.

Newcastle Crown Court was told that Norman Heaton, 42, and mother-of-three Jacqueline Heaton, 32, of South Shields, South Tyneside, had been due to split up on the day of her death, after a series of rows.

But, during one last passionate session together, Mrs Heaton was said to have been strangled with a length of washing line during a sex game.

The court heard yesterday that Mr Heaton had planned to snatch his two sons from their mother and had prepared a letter to post to her after he fled with them.

An extract read: "You said I was such a lousy father, well dear you are no great mother. You are evil on a morning and stay like that the rest of the day."

The letter threatened that copies of pornographic movies involving the couple would be posted to Mrs Heaton's family.

Her body was found in a cupboard at the couple's masionette in Anderson Street, South Shields.

Heaton denies a charge of murder. The trial continues.