Vickers said Scarlett was a “normal” and “cheeky” teenager and “fantastic daughter” who was “good at most things she did”.

He said he had drunk about four glasses of wine on the evening of 5 July while watching the football and all three were happy and in a good mood.

His lawyers said Vickers was already serving a “life sentence” after Scarlett’s death.

Jurors spent more than 13 hours 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.

Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS North East Anna Barker said Mr Vickers’ account had been “wholly inconsistent with the forensic evidence” in the case.

Det Supt Craig Rudd of Durham Police said Scarlett had had “her whole life ahead of her” but it was “cruelly cut short by a man who was meant to protect her”.

He added: “We may never know why or what caused Simon Vickers to do what he did that night.

“Sadly, today’s verdict will not bring Scarlett back, but he will now face the consequences of his actions.”