Murderer Michael Stirling has been sentenced at Stafford Crown Court this afternoon.

The case started at 10.45am and concluded at 3pm.

StokeonTrentLive had a reporter in court to bring you the latest on the sentencing hearing as it happened.

The 32-year-old, of Cromer Road, Northwood, was last in court in October when he admitted murdering midwife Samantha Eastwood, of Baddeley Green.

The 28-year-old was reported missing on Friday, July 27 when she failed to turn up for work at the Royal Stoke University Hospital - and a CCTV image of her driving away from work at the end of her previous shift was the last time she was seen alive.

Landscape gardener Stirling - who had been having an affair with Samantha - was arrested for a second time when her body was found in a shallow grave, near Caverswall, eight days later.

Samantha's family and friends were in court to see Stirling handed a life sentence this afternoon. He must serve a minimum terms of 17 years and 52 days before he can be considered for parole.

Follow our live blog for all of the updates from the court as they happened.

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