TWO men who have admitted the murder of 36-year-old Keith Philpott face inevitable life sentences, a judge has warned.

Relatives of Mr Philpott, who suffered from learning difficulties, wept as Sean Swindon arrived in the dock at Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

Swindon, 24, from Middlesbrough but of no fixed address, was the second man to admit the killing. He had previously denied the charge.

Five weeks ago Michael Peart, 22, of Eamont Road, Norton, near Stockton, also pleaded guilty to murder. He was not in court yesterday.

Mr Philpott was found beaten and stabbed in his ground-floor flat in Axbridge Court, High Grange, Billingham, on March 24 this year.

Mr Philpott's family rose from the public benches to stare at Swindon as he was brought into the dock.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough Judge Peter Fox QC told Swindon that both he and Peart faced inevitable life sentences, and the judge said he had to fix the minimum they should serve when passing sentence in early October.

Tim Roberts QC, mitigating, said that Peart was detained in Frankland Prison, Durham, where a psychologist would examine him next week.

Aidan Marron QC, representing Swindon, said that no reports were needed on him. He was again remanded in custody.

An inquest into the death of Mr Philpott held in June heard that he was found gagged and bound and had suffered horrific head, facial and abdominal injuries.

Home Office pathologist James Sunter told the inquest that Mr Philpott had endured a prolonged beating suffering "spectacular" injuries.

"It is physically possible that the assault took place over a period of time and could have gone on for hours," he said.

A post-mortem examination found that he died as a result of the assault and stab wounds to the abdomen.

Police have called the attack "sickening".