A British man accused of murdering his partner is due to be extradited to Italy to face criminal charges.

Michael Whitbread, a retired driving instructor, is wanted by the Italian authorities for allegedly killing Michele Faiers, 66, who was found stabbed to death at their home in Casoli, Abruzzo province, in October.

It is alleged Whitbread drove from Italy to the UK after Faiers’ death, on a trip he told police was to visit relatives. He was arrested in Shepshed, Leicestershire, within days and an international arrest warrant was issued by an Italian judge.

On Wednesday, his extradition was ordered at Westminster magistrates court. He now has seven days to lodge an application for permission to appeal.

The head of the extradition unit at the Crown Prosecution Service, John Sheehan, said: “Our thoughts are primarily with the grieving family of Michele Faiers. We ask that there be no speculation about the facts of the case which may be subject to appeal, and so that Michael Whitbread can receive a fair trial in Italy.”

Faiers was found by a friend who had not heard from her for three days and decided to check up on her, police previously said.

Before moving to Italy, the couple are said to have run Divers Down scuba school in Torquay, Devon.