A pensioner was jailed for seven years yesterday after stabbing his wife to death in an "inexplicable" crime.

Retired industrial chemist and former Commonwealth Games cyclist Edwin Brown confessed to a 999 operator immediately after the attack.

Brown, 72, told the emergency services worker: "I've killed my wife."

When the operator said: "Sorry, you've killed your wife?" Brown replied: "Hopefully, with a bit of luck, yes." The High Court in Edinburgh heard that "a somewhat chilling conversation" then took place over the phone. During it Brown explained he thought he had cut an artery at the side of his wife's neck. Advocate-depute Alastair Brown, prosecuting, said: "In the event it turned out that he was correct about that.

"The emergency services attended and found that Mrs Ann Brown had indeed been stabbed to death. She was found to have sustained 11 stab wounds to the neck, together with certain other lacerations and blunt force injuries."

Brown, who has cancer, was originally charged with murdering his 74-year-old wife at their home at Hollycroft, Badnaban, near Lochinver, in Sutherland, on May 7.

But the Crown earlier accepted his guilty plea to a reduced charge of culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Brown admitted killing her by struggling with her and repeatedly stabbing her and hitting her on the head and body with an ornament.

A judge told Brown: "You have pled guilty to a truly ghastly crime. You killed your wife, to whom you were married for some 52 years, in a dreadful way."

Lord Menzies said he also took into account that Brown was a first offender who had been "a useful member of society". The judge added that he noted he accepted responsibility for the killing immediately after the incident and that depression was a significant factor in the killing. Lord Menzies said he also took account of Brown's age and physical health problems.

Brown told police that he had fallen asleep after drinking and when he awoke decided to kill his wife.

Brown told officers: "I don't really know why I flipped, but I did for some reason."

He explained that he was suspicious that his wife had been unfaithful to him 30 years before.

The prosecutor told the court: "There is no evidence that there was any foundation for that suspicion."

He said Brown has suffered prostate cancer since 1993 and his health has been deteriorating.

Defence counsel Frances Connor said: "The tragic events that took place resulting in the death of Ann Brown are inexplicable.

"Her life was ended by the person who loved her most and she loved most. Until these events Mr and Mrs Brown were inseparable."