A man murdered his wife with a claw hammer before scouring the internet for escorts and draining their joint bank accounts while her remains lay concealed in a chest freezer, a court was told.
David Barraclough, 46, maintained an intricate charade for nearly a fortnight to hide the fact his wife Carolann Barraclough, 37, had been killed at their Horbury residence in Wakefield, Leeds Crown Court was informed.
Throughout this period, Barraclough also installed a dating application, sent sexually explicit communications online and even manipulated Mrs Barraclough's mobile to deceive her daughter into believing she was corresponding with her mother from hospital.
Life sentence imposed
On Friday, Barraclough received a life sentence from Judge Andrew Stubbs KC, who imposed a minimum custodial period of 22 years and one month.
Judge Stubbs described it as "a brutal attack with a hammer whilst she lay in bed in the house you shared with her three children who were all present in the house at the time".
The judge detailed how Barraclough entered a police station on March 5, confessing to killing his wife on February 20 while falsely portraying himself as a domestic abuse victim.
Claims 'riddled with lies'
However, the judge informed him this narrative was "riddled with lies" and revealed how the defendant had actually inflicted years of domestic violence and abuse upon his wife. Barraclough declined to appear in court for his sentencing, remaining in the cells.
The judge stated his intention to invoke new legislation permitting defendants to be brought before the court using reasonable force, or face an additional two-year sentence for non-attendance. However, he was informed that these new powers have not yet come into effect.
