A man was stabbed to death in his own house by a homeless man he had taken in.

Connor McCarthy, 39, was high on cocaine when he launched the frenzied attack on Peter Littlefair at his house in Chester Drive, Harrow.

The 57-year-old sustained 35 injuries in the frenzied attack on March 16 last year.

When officers arrested a blood-spattered McCarthy, he said to them: "I am a good person deep down, but I could sense the devil in him, I could feel the heat. Oh my God – what have I done?”

The gruesome murder took place less than a year after Peter allowed McCarthy to stay at his house after he had become homeless.

His attack on the 57-year-old began inside the house, but Peter was able to run into the street in an attempt to seek help.

McCarthy followed him with knives and a bottle, continuing his assault in the street.

Although the 39-year-old answered “no comment” during his police interview, CCTV and doorbell footage from neighbouring homes captured the incident, confirming his guilt.

He eventually decided to plead guilty to murder at the Old Bailey last Friday (February 2), and will be sentenced on April 25.

After McCarthy’s guilty plea, Detective Inspector Laura Nelson, said that her thoughts go out to Peter’s family “who have been left understandably devastated by his tragic loss”.

She added: “McCarthy was high on drugs when he unleashed a violent and sustained attack on Peter who had invited him into his home and offered him a place to stay.

“We will never know what prompted the attack, but it is highly likely that McCarthy’s emotions were heightened due to his drug use.

“His senseless actions in that moment have robbed a family of their loved one.”

She also thanked the residents of Chester Drive, acknowledging that they had also lived through a “harrowing experience”, and that their courage had helped secure the guilty plea.