WIFE-killer John Walker is today facing up to the reality of a life sentence behind bars.The 66-year-old cheating husband was branded a "manipulative, hypocritical, deceitful and cold-hearted man" by Judge John Devaux after a jury at Ipswich Crown Court found him guilty of murdering his wife Glenda.

WIFE-killer John Walker is today facing up to the reality of a life sentence behind bars.

The 66-year-old cheating husband was branded a "manipulative, hypocritical, deceitful and cold-hearted man" by Judge John Devaux after a jury at Ipswich Crown Court found him guilty of murdering his wife Glenda.

Walker, from Great Bealings, near Woodbridge, woke up in prison today after being given a life sentence with a minimum of 14 years to serve.

Today a member of the stricken family said: "He got what he deserved."

The relative, who does not wish to be named, said: "The family are pleased with the result of the case. The jury came to the right decision. They saw what he was capable of doing and he has got a lot of time to think about it now."

"Nobody expected him to do what he did. There was never any violence in the marriage before. It was constant belittling, not violence," said the relative.

"We were absolutely devastated. How the children coped I do not know. They have struggled through but it's been a rollercoaster ride.

"At the end of the day he is their father but I cannot see there will be any contact. They have lost a mum and dad realistically. It was shocking.

"No one had any idea he was capable of it, least of all Glenda.

"He's shown absolutely no remorse whatsoever. He has called it 'our tragedy' but he never said what 'I have done'. He doesn't apportion any blame to himself at all."

The relative said Walker's behaviour towards his wife had begun to change after their two children had been born.

"It turned strange. John considered himself a very intellectual man. He had a Phd and thought he was the most intelligent person in the land and everyone else was inferior to him," said the relative.

"It was always John belittling Glenda. Mental bullying is about the best way to describe it.

"John Walker was the sort of person who believed in the sanctity of marriage but people like him don't want to get a divorce because he thought it would alter his reputation in the (Deben) yacht club.

"John was a very private man and not very emotional. If he went to a party, he would like to be able to engage someone in an extremely intellectual conversation and be on top but if Glenda got involved he would put her down."

Glenda was born and brought up in Kent but moved to Dartford after marrying Walker. The couple moved to Suffolk later through Walker's work. He worked for the German-owned agrochemical company BASF at its Suffolk base in Hadleigh before retiring in 1995.

The last six years of her marriage were said to be the worst, and left her feeling miserable and dejected.

"She wanted a divorce and started proceedings towards John and he pleaded with her to go back.

"Just prior to the first set of divorce proceedings they got together and she found out he was having an affair with a woman from a ballroom dancing club three or four years ago.

"Basically he swore he would never see her again and ended the affair. Glenda had hired a private detective. They had a list of things he had to abide by to help things work out, to try and do more things together and to go on a few more holidays but in the end he still went back to the other woman.

"John went back to calling this woman on the phone and meeting up with her. Glenda found out and said enough was enough.

"She moved back to Kent to see her other sister to try and sort out things. One night, she drove back up from Kent to Suffolk. They had an argument and basically he walked into the kitchen the next morning and shot her."

Glenda has been described as a woman who lived for her children and family.

"Her family was everything to her. "She was a wonderful person. She always had a smile on her face. She would do anything for anybody.

"John said Glenda had hit him but she wouldn't even know how to hit anyone. She was physically incapable of doing that.

"He was like a Victorian father and very strict. Glenda was there for the kids no matter what.

"The last four or five years were awful for her. Basically he thought Glenda was going to take him for every penny and get some property down in Kent.

"It was not the fact she wanted money because it was not an issue. But that was what pushed John over the edge.

"The biggest thing he worried about was he didn't want to his private dealings brought out into the public domain. He told her he would not be able to handle it. It was also about his reputation."