A CONTROLLING and obsessive father who carefully planned the death of his former partner has been jailed for life.

After being convicted of murdering teacher Sally Jessop, Peter Hutchings was told he would face 14 years behind bars before being considered for release.

The judge said the parole board may ultimately be assisted in his conclusion that the 60-year-old killer was "a highly manipulative individual".

A hushed court had heard a moving statement from the couple's daughter Frances, in which she spoke of her "beautiful and vivacious" mother and branded her father "a monster".

Maidstone Crown Court was told that Hutchings used the internet to search for ways to commit murder before strangling his 48-year-old ex-partner with his scarf.

He had bombarded her with vitriolic text messages, which became more sinister, one warning "Repercussions immense", after she started seeing divorced neighbour Andrew Bower.

Miss Jessop, head of English and music at Joy Lane Junior School in Whitstable, stayed in the unhappy relationship for some time because she feared Hutchings would kill her if she left him.

He did just that on New Year's Eve last year when he lured her to their former home in Harcourt Drive, Canterbury.

FULL STORY IN NEXT THURSDAY'S KENTISH GAZETTE AND WHITSTABLE GAZETTE