A 42-year-old alcoholic who strangled his girlfriend and then slept all night by her body is facing 20 years in jail.

That was the minimum term a judge said Dean Williams would have to serve for the "horrendous" crime before being considered for release.

There were shouts of approval from victim Mary Malkin's family as the jury at Maidstone Crown Court returned a unanimous guilty verdict on the murder charge.

Judge Warwick McKinnon told Williams: "I have no doubt you did intend to kill her, although mercifully for you now, you may have no recollection of doing so. You regularly used acts of violence upon her, including previous acts of strangulation."

The disabled victim had left Williams in the past but always returned to him - a decision that cost her life.

Williams claimed he could not recall killing her at the flat they shared in Invicta House, Margate, and even suggested at one point that it had been done by an intruder.

Mrs Malkin, whose right leg was amputated below the knee, was also an alcoholic.

"Escalating levels of alcohol consumption played a central part in their everyday lives, as did increasing levels of violence," said prosecutor Cairns Nelson.

It was likely, he said, that Williams killed Mrs Malkin, aged 40, during a violent argument on January 28.

After waking up next to her body, he did not call the police for three hours and did not call an ambulance at all.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Russell, the senior investigating officer for this case, said: "Mary died at the hands of a violent and abusive partner.

"Even when she broke away from the relationship she went back for reasons only known to herself. She paid the ultimate price for that.

“Kent Police would encourage anyone suffering domestic violence to report it. What happened to Mary can be the tragic result of staying in a violent relationship. There are agencies that can help and are ready to help."

In a statement, the family of Mary Malkin said: "We, the family of Mary Malkin, would like it noted that, yes, Mary had a drink problem but this became far worse when she met Dean Williams.

"For the last two years Mary was exploited and abused by Williams. He used her as a meal ticket because she received a disability allowance and had an additional income.

“Each time Mary sought help for domestic violence and alcohol abuse Williams tracked her down. He knew as long as he had control of her he had a regular alcohol supply and if she did get on her feet she would leave him and he would lose this income.

"Williams controlled Mary with his fists and beat her on a regular basis. Love did not come into it.

“This is something the family, including her two sons, will never forgive. Williams is a cruel and dangerous man who needs to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

"Mary can never be returned to us but at least justice has been done. He was found guilty of her murder and he cannot hurt anyone else."

The statement added: “We would like to sincerely thank all the witnesses who were brave enough to give evidence, as well as the medical experts. Also a huge thank you to all the officers involved at Kent Police who worked so hard to ensure this animal was convicted."