A dad has been found guilty of murdering his 14-year-old daughter.

Scarlett Vickers bled to death at her home in Darlington in July after suffering a 4in-deep (11cm) stab wound to her chest.

Simon Vickers, 50, accepted he caused the fatal injury while they were “mucking about”, but told Teesside Crown Court it was a “freak accident”. Prosecutors said the wound must have been inflicted deliberately.

He was found guilty of murder and will be sentenced in February.

The trial had heard Scarlett died at her home in Geneva Road after being stabbed in the kitchen on 5 July.

Her parents were the only other people present and told the court her death was accidental as they were all playing around.

Vickers said he “swiped” at some kitchen tongs which must have connected with a knife, which his partner Sarah Hall had got out to cut some garlic bread.

The prosecution’s case relied on the conclusion of a pathologist who said it was “practically impossible” for the wound to have been caused by a thrown knife and must have been inflicted by a blade being firmly held in Vickers’ hand.

His lawyers said he bore “moral responsibility” for killing his daughter and was already serving a “life sentence” after her death, but denied he had acted unlawfully.

Jurors spent 13 hours and 21 minutes deliberating their verdict before reaching a majority agreement, with 10 finding Vickers guilty of murder.

He was remanded in custody to be sentenced on 10 February.