A 64-year-old man has been sentenced to a minimum of 14 years in jail after murdering his wife in Stowmarket last year.

Stephen Searle was found guilty yesterday Tuesday 17 July, of the murder of Anne Searle, 62, after a trial at Ipswich Crown Court. He had denied the offence.

Today, Wednesday 18 July, Searle appeared before Ipswich Crown Court and was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of 14 years before being considered for release by the parole board.

The incident took place on the evening of Saturday 30 December, 2017 at the couple’s home in The Brickfields, Stowmarket.

At around 10.20pm police received a call from Searle who said he had just killed his wife.

Police officers and paramedics tried to revive Mrs Searle but she was declared dead at 10.58pm. A subsequent post-mortem examination indicated she died from a sustained compression to the neck area.

Searle and his wife had been married for 45 years and have three sons, Garry, Christopher and Stevie, but there had been a recent history of marital problems between the couple.

The trial heard the defendant had been in a recent relationship with Garry’s partner, Anastasia Pomiateeva, which was the subject of the row that ended in Mrs Searle’s death.

The senior investigating officer Detective Chief Superintendent Eamonn Bridger said: “Anne Searle’s death was a tragic crime and our sympathies remain with her family and friends.

“Domestic abuse continues to take place behind closed doors. Suffolk Constabulary will take positive action against the perpetrators where we have the opportunity. When victims of abuse come to us we will work with them to address their needs and make them and their families safe. Our focus is firmly on the needs of victims and we will continue to work closely with our partners in tackling this type of crime.”