A grandson who killed his elderly grandmother in her care home has been convicted of murder.

Antony Jennings and Ruby Wilson had been talking and drinking tea together at the Forest Place Nursing Home in Roebuck Lane, Buckhurst Hill on November 29, 2017.

But just over an hour later, he had cut her throat with a knife then calmly told staff what he had done.

Officers arrived and found the 94-year-old in her room.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jennings admitted killing her and told them the knife was in his rucksack.

He was arrested and later charged with murder.

The 33-year-old denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

At the trial on September 24 at Chelmsford Crown Court prosecutor Stephen Rose said: “She [a nurse] saw Mr Jennings and Mrs Wilson meeting and drinking tea together at the lounge table.

“Mrs Wilson appeared to be very pleased to see her grandson.”

Jurors then heard that Jennings asked to see Room 3, where his Nan was staying.

The relatives went to the room, and the court heard that, 10 minutes later, a psychiatric nurse “felt a tap on her arm”.

Mr Rose said: “It was Mr Jennings. He said, 'I'm sorry...I just killed my Nan', to which [the nurse] reacted, 'You're joking'. He replied, 'I'm not joking'.”

The nurse allegedly went to Mrs Wilson's room, and found the resident bleeding from the neck area.

Mr Rose said: “She heard the defendant saying something along the lines of, 'I've killed her, I've killed her, it's time for her to go'.”

Jennings allegedly said later: “I don't want her to suffer any more and she's not in pain any more.”

Jennings, of Clinton Crescent, Ilford, was found guilty of murder today, Friday, October 5.

He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 22 years.

A court heard Jennings had wanted to kill Mrs Wilson, who had dementia, because he thought she was suffering.

He had a history of drug abuse and his mental health had deteriorated in recent years.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Julie Gowen, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “This is a particularly sad and tragic case and my thoughts are very much with Mrs Wilson’s family.

“The events of November 29, 2017 have been devastating for the family of Ruby Wilson and Anthony Jennings and this has been a tragedy from every angle.

“A jury has deemed that Jennings was not suffering from diminished responsibility at the time he took his grandmother’s life.

“It is accepted that Jennings had been diagnosed with a mental health condition and was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time.

“But while there is empathy towards his mental health, he remains wholly responsible for Ruby’s death and went to the care home that day with the intent to end her life. This is something he will have to live with.

“I believe the 22 years imprisonment which he will serve is an appropriate sentence in this case.

“The family have requested their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”