A pensioner accused of blasting his unfaithful wife to death with a shotgun repeatedly confessed to the crime to two police officers, a court heard today.

Charles Hall, 69, of Park Road, Hellingly, near Hailsham, told them he had murdered Trudy Hall, 53.

PC Paul Dedham told Lewes Crown Court he was on cell watch on October 24 last year after Hall was booked into Eastbourne police station.

PC Dedham said: "Hall said he regretted what he had done, getting the gun, discharging it and killing the woman he loved.

"Hall said 'I'm guilty. All I want is my cat to be looked after'."

Earlier the officer who arrested Hall told the court he admitted several times killing his wife.

Sgt Rachel Barrell said: "At 6.57pm I arrested Hall for murder and he said 'I have done a terrible thing'.

"He was very distressed. He did not really stop talking and I repeated to him that he was under caution."

Despite the warning that everything he said would be taken in evidence and possibly used in court, Sgt Barrell said Hall kept confessing to the killing.

She told the court: "He was very upset through the whole time I was with him.

"While he was being booked in, Hall said 'I murdered my wife. I have done the worst possible thing, I have shot my wife'."

Under cross-examination by defence barrister Michael Lawson, Sgt Barrell admitted she took Hall's handcuffs off shortly after arresting him as she did not feel they were necessary.

Mr Lawson said: "From his behaviour he was clearly not going to cause any difficulty or any danger."

Sgt Barrell replied: "That was how I felt."

Hall denies murdering his wife of 18 years and claims he believed the shotgun was not loaded when he pointed it at Mrs Hall and pulled the trigger.

The court heard the retired civil servant shot her in the head after she dared him to pull the trigger during a row.

Diane Chan, prosecuting, said the couple had a "terrible row" when Hall accused his wife of having an affair.

The former Ministry of Defence worker grabbed the single-barrel shotgun from a cabinet in the loft of their cottage.

He then went to his wife's bedroom and pointed it at her from a distance of a metre.

Ms Chan told the court: "Mrs Hall said, 'Oh, I expect you have come to shoot me. I hope you have the guts and courage to do it'."

At this point Hall pulled the trigger, although he believed the gun was not loaded.

Ms Chan said: "Hall pulled the trigger expecting to hear a click but it exploded."

Mrs Hall was killed instantly as the shot entered her right cheek and exited through her left ear.

After the shooting Hall phoned 999, and repeatedly confessed to killing his wife during a 22-minute conversation with the emergency operator.

A recording of the call was played in court.

On the tape Hall said: "I feel so awful - there's blood everywhere. Please, please come soon."

The trial continues.