A Knighton man who brutally murdered his wife has been sentenced to life in prison.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard how Christopher Llewellyn Kerrell, 35, attacked Hollie Kerrell, 28, with a hammer before driving her to his mother's farm and burying her body in a shallow grave.

He had initially denied the charge, but pleaded guilty to the murder on the day of the trial on October 22.

At a sentencing hearing on Friday, November 2, Kerrell was told he would serve a minimum jail term of 25 years.

Prosecuting, Peter Lewis QC described Kerrell's action as a "savage attack".

"He hit her in the head with a hammer which he had brought into the house and then strangled her.

"He made a determined effort to cover up what he had done and wrapped her body in plastic bags and old clothes and trussed her up."

The court was then told how Kerrell laid a "cynical" trail of text messages to Mrs Kerrell's friends and relatives suggesting that she had left him.

"He continued life as normal, visiting shops and supermarkets, talking to friends and family on the telephone and taking the children on the school run on the day after he had murdered their mother," continued the prosecutor.

"Six months on from the murder he has given no explanation for it, the only explanation can be his jealousy and possessiveness."

Gordon Cole QC, defending, said Kerrell was suffering a depressive disorder at the time of the murder, and that his client had showed "contrition".

Mr Justice Stephen Morris said: "Hollie Kerrell was a healthy young woman in the prime of her life, a much loved daughter and mother of three young children.

"She was subject to a brutal attack that came without warning."

He added her three children suffered an "incalculable loss" which would stay with them for the rest of their lives.