Carroll, a former laminating machine operator at Mac Print Finishing in Peterborough where he worked for 12 years, strangled his wife of 23 years on the morning of 24 May 2012 at their home in Peterborough.

When Mac Print Finishing senior partner Vernon MacFarlane called to find out why he wasn't at work, Carroll said he thought he had killed his wife.

Carroll, who claimed to have snapped due to financial concerns over a £75,000 mortgage debt, denied the murder charge and pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The jury at the original trial earlier this year failed to reach a verdict; however, the jury at last month's retrial found Carroll guilty of murder by majority verdict.

Detective Inspector Richard Wall said: "Michael Carroll was under a lot of stress due to financial difficulties at the time, however nothing can excuse his actions in killing his loving wife, Elisabeth.

"She had overcome cancer and should have been looking forward to enjoying her retirement. This has been an extremely difficult time for Elisabeth's family and I am pleased they now have justice."

Carroll will be sentenced at a later date.