A former Ukip councillor strangled his wife after she discovered that he was having an affair with his son’s partner, a court has been told.

Stephen Searle, 64, a former Royal Marine, denies murdering his wife, Anne, after she found photographs that he had sent to Anastasia Pomiateeva, 39, who the court was told was effectively his daughter-in-law.

Anne Searle was pronounced dead by paramedics at the couple’s home in Stowmarket, Suffolk NICHOLAS RAZZELL

Mrs Searle, 62, who worked for a sushi producer, was pronounced dead by paramedics at her home in Stowmarket, Suffolk, on December 30.

On the first day of the trial at Ipswich crown court yesterday Andrew Jackson, for the prosecution, said that Mr Searle called police and told the call handler: “I’ve just killed my wife.”

Asked how he killed her, he said: “Suffocation really. Bit of