WOOBURN lorry driver John McGrory has been jailed for a minimum of 14 years after he was found guilty of murdering his wife.

Sentencing the 46-year-old this afternoon, the judge said Marie McGrory’s death has had a “devastating impact” on her family.

Several family members and friends were sat in the public gallery as the sentence was announced, including the man with whom she was having an affair, called Ed McGuinness, the court heard.

Her Honour Judge Smith said the starting point for sentence was 15 years, but acknowledged the mitigating factors; including that McGrory’s wife had started a new relationship and he was uncertain about where he would live.

The six male and six female jurors returned a unanimous guilty verdict today after deliberating for about an hour, which brought tears and cries of joy from the public gallery at Reading Crown Court.

Ex-soldier McGrory, wearing a green fleece, looked downcast in the dock as the foreman announced the verdict.

The Scotsman had admitted using a dog lead to strangle 39-year-old Marie, who was better known as 'Milly' at their Holtspur Avenue home. But he denied murder, saying he could not remember the killing.

McGrory has been in custody at Oxfordshire’s Bullingdon prison since he was arrested on the morning of January 3, so his sentence will be reduced by 192 days.