A man murdered his pregnant girlfriend with a pair of scissors in an “exceptionally brutal” attack.

Ailish Walsh was 22 weeks pregnant when Liam Taylor stabbed her 40 times.

The 28-year-old mother-to-be was pronounced dead after police were called to her flat in Rectory Road in Hackney, on the evening of December 15 last year.

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On Monday, Taylor pleaded guilty of Ms Walsh’s murder during a hearing at the Old Bailey.

Prosecutor Jane Osborne KC had told an earlier hearing: “The attack was exceptionally brutal and carried out knowing Ms Walsh was carrying the defendant’s child.

“There was a 12-week scan picture and at 22 weeks it would have been fairly evident.”

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She told the Old Bailey there was a “strong evidential link” between the defendant and the crime scene.

The victim’s father had found her covered in blood and unconscious in her bedroom. She was covered with a high visibility jacket with the defendant’s bank card in the pocket.

A pair of bloodied scissors were found nearby as well as two dumbbells.

CCTV footage captured Taylor entering through the communal entrance to the building at 8.36pm and leaving at 9.14pm.

Five minutes before he left, a female friend had phoned the victim and heard sounds of screaming and fighting in the background.

She had got in contact after Ms Walsh sent her messages to say she was trying to get Taylor out of the flat because he was taking drugs, the court heard.

Taylor, who had cocaine, cannabis and alcohol in his system, was arrested at his home early the next morning.

As he was taken into custody, he told police: “It’s crazy how one moment of madness can change your whole life.”

He was charged on December 18 and first appeared in court on December 21.

The court heard Taylor, 37, had previous convictions for attacking female members of his family.

The Hornsey man had been jailed for 12 months for assaulting his mother with a metal pole and cautioned for headbutting his sister when she was 16.

Judge Alexia Durran remanded him in custody and adjourned sentencing for the preparation of reports.

She told him: “You have pleaded guilty to the most serious offence. There can only be one sentence. The only question will be how long it will be before the parole board considers your release.”

The case will return to the Old Bailey on May 10 to set a date for sentencing.