A pensioner murdered in a frenzied knife attack in his Hainault home has been described as a “father figure” by a neighbour.

Mark Robinson, 35, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey yesterday to killing 80-year-old Albert Wright, who was his stepdad’s father, in Trelawney Road.

Stepdad David Wright had married Robinson’s mother just three months before her death from liver disease, and her son held him “at least partly responsible”, the Old Bailey heard.

Robinson harboured “strongly negative feelings” towards him after he inherited the bulk of her estate, including a house in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire and lucrative pension funds.

He had initially set out to attack David, but changed his plans when his intended victim was not at home.

Robinson will be sentenced on Friday.

A 46-year-old neighbour of Mr Wright, who was killed on February 25, has paid tribute to him following the guilty plea.

She said: “He was so nice. He got on with everyone.

“He was like a father figure. He was such a caring person.

“Everyone used to look up to him. He was really sweet.”

Another couple who were friends of Mr Wright said his death still evoked raw emotions for them.

Mr Wright was stabbed around half a dozen times to the neck and chest.

Nearby CCTV cameras caught Robinson entering the house at 6.34pm and leaving just two minutes later.

But the body was not discovered until David, who had been living with his father since the death of his wife in September 2009, returned from drinking with friends at around 11.30pm.

Robinson, of Green Court, Green Close, Luton, admitted murder.