The man who poured gasoline on a woman and set her on fire confessed to the murder of the woman, who died nearly two years after the attack.

Leigh Pateman, 45, had previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was serving a prison sentence for causing “significant burns” to the upper half of Ellen Marshall’s body.

Emergency services were called to a property in Firbeck Avenue, Skegness, on April 22, 2021, where Pateman poured petrol over Ms Marshall, then 42, and “set the petrol on fire”.

Pateman entered his plea to the more serious charge of murder at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday after Ms Marshall died from her injuries in March 2023.

Lincolnshire Police said the murder charge was approved following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.

Pateman, formerly of Firbeck Avenue, will be sentenced at the same court on December 2.

Judge Simon Hirst told the defendant, who appeared in court via video link from HMP Garth: “You know that the sentence I have to impose on you will be life imprisonment.

“What I need to determine, and what the attorney will help with, is the minimum amount of time you have to serve.”