A divorced man tracked down his ex-wife after almost 20 years and severed her spine in an axe attack.

Roland Cook, 59, struck his victim with a hatchet after driving to Edinburgh from his home in England in a van that he had modified to allow him to look out without being seen.

He attacked his ex-wife, Barbara, 55, as she walked home from her work at a Sainsbury's store on June 19. During the assault the victim saw the face of her attacker, but did not recognise him.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the mother-of-three was still in a specialist spinal unit at a hospital and will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Cook admitted attempting to murder Barbara Cook or Graham at Groathill Road South, in Edinburgh, by pursuing her, pulling her to the ground and repeatedly striking her with an axe to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment and to the danger of her life.

He had originally faced further charges of assaulting her between 1983 and 1987 and forming a plan to murder her between January 2006 and June this year, but his not-guilty pleas were accepted.

Advocate depute Ashley Edwards said the couple met in 1978 and married the following year. They had three children, who are now adults. They moved to Livingston, in West Lothian, in 1983 but separated four years later.

Mrs Cook obtained a divorce from her husband in 1995.

Miss Edwards said that in 2006, Cook, who was living in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, hired a van and drove to Edinburgh in a bid to trace his former wife and children She said: "However, on that occasion his attempts failed and he returned to England."

However, on June 6 this year he hired a white Peugeot van and returned to Edinburgh.

Miss Edwards said: "He knew the addresses of Barbara Cook and his children, having carried out investigation using the telephone directory and electoral roll."

Cook arrived in the city on June 8 with the van, which had black plastic bags between the front and rear sections and black over the back windows.

The advocate depute said: "He slept in the van, parking it in various streets close to his ex-wife's home, and he used the facilities at Waverley railway station and elsewhere to wash."

Cook followed his former wife to work on the day of the murder bid and waited all day for her to leave.

Shortly before 6pm he saw her walking along the street from his position in the rear of the vehicle.

Miss Edwards said: "He got out of the van and followed her on foot. The accused attacked her from behind. He put the axe round her neck and used this to pull her to the ground.

"He then struck her repeatedly on the head and body with the axe. Barbara Cook felt something sinking into her back and immediately had difficulty breathing."

She added: "The accused then kicked her while she was on the ground and during that time she looked up and saw the face of her attacker. Although she was later able to identify him as the person responsible, she did not recognise him as her ex-husband."

Later that night Cook walked into Lothian and Borders Police headquarters and stated he had assaulted his wife.

Lord Hodge deferred sentence on Cook for a social inquiry report and risk assessment.

Cook was remanded in prison to await his next court appearance.