A man who was arrested in Burnham-On-Sea after murdering his wife because she was having an affair has been jailed for life this week.
David Lancaster, 60, struck wife Helen, 54, six times with a weapon and smothered her with a pillow at their home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.
Bristol Crown Court was told this week that after the attack, he fled the house and drove to Burnham-On-Sea, where he was arrested on the town’s beach after being located by Burnham Coastguards and Police.
Lancaster must serve at least 11 years and nine months in prison before he can be considered for parole.
Judge Neil Ford said a house owned by the couple in Lincoln – which was in Mrs Lancaster’s name but had been bought by Lancaster with money he had inherited – was a source of “further annoyance and upset” for the defendant, who killed his teacher wife on 30th September.
The judge told him: “Your relationship had been in difficulty for some time. You suspected she had been having an affair with another man. On 20th August your suspicions were confirmed and you confronted Helen.”
He added: “I have no doubt that you began to contemplate the benefit of killing your wife. Helen had revealed to friends that you had accused her of stealing your inheritance.”
The judge told Lancaster: “You said you had been driven to commit murder by the way your wife had treated you and your daughter.”
“You also said what you had done was less serious than what your wife had done to you and Amy. You have effectively deprived your daughter Amy of both her parents.”
After the attack Lancaster drove to Burnham-On-Sea and rang the police and also confessed to murdering his wife and told them where to find her body.
Lancaster pleaded guilty to murder at a previous hearing.
