A MAN has been jailed for life for the murder of his former partner who he strangled with a dog lead.

Annie Davidson

A DOUBLE killer will spend the rest of his life behind bars after admitting strangling his former partner with a dog lead.

Marc Chivers, 42, murdered Maria Stubbings at her home in Pitfield, Chelmsford, and hid her body in a downstairs toilet.

Chivers pleaded guilty to murder in October at Chelmsford Crown Court and was today sentenced to a full life term.

The court heard he murdered Ms Stubbings less than a year after being deported to the UK from Germany where he had served 15 years in prison for killing another partner, Sabine Rappold.

He strangled her and buried her body in a shallow grave in 1992 and was caught by police after three months on the run.

Chivers was told by Mr Justice Calvert-Smith at Chelmsford Crown Court today that he will never be released from prison.

Ms Stubbings, 50, was killed sometime between December 15 and 20 last year.

The court heard she and Chivers were no longer living together following a “turbulent and violent” relationship.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: “Today's sentence highlights the horrendous nature of this crime.

“Chivers murdered Ms Stubbings in cold blood, and then took steps to conceal the body, hiding it under a pile of coats.

“It was clearly his intention to kill her. We are satisfied Chivers will no longer pose a danger to women or society in general and will be imprisoned for the rest of his life.

“We hope the conclusion of this case will help Maria's family and friends to move on with their lives and our sympathies are with them at this difficult time.”