THE son of an ex-Royal Marine revealed today he has forgiven his girlfriend despite her sordid affair with his murderous dad.

Gary Searle has spoken out for the first time since dad Stephen was convicted of killing his mum Anne.

21 Stephen Searle, 64, had a two-month fling with Anastasia Pomiateeva, 39, after pestering her for sex Credit: East News Press Agency

21 Former Royal Marine Stephen Searle, 64, pictured with his wife Anne, who he is convicted of killing Credit: East Anglia News Service

21 Gary Searle, pictured, says he forgives Anastasia and claims her sordid affair has made their relationship stronger

Stephen Searle, 62, suffocated his wife, also 62, during a row over his romps with Anastasia ­Pomiateeva - his son’s partner of nine years.

Gary has vowed never to forgive his dad but has taken back his girlfriend with open arms.

He told the Mirror: “Me and Anastasia just love each other so much that if anything this has brought us closer together.

“We will be together for the rest of our lives, until we are old and grey. We have all done things in our lives we are not proud of."

21 Searle was today found guilty of strangling wife Anne, pictured, to death at their home in Stowmarket, Suffolk Credit: Enterprise News and Pictures

21 The Searle family on Stephen Jnr's wedding day. From left: Anne, Stephen, Stephen Jnr, Gary and Anastasia Pomiateeva

21 Former Royal Marine commando Stephen Searle strangled his wife after she discovered his affair with their son's girlfriend Credit: � Facebook

21 Searle was elected as a Ukip councillor for Suffolk County Council in 2013 but lost his seat in May last year Credit: Enterprise News and Pictures

21 Stephen Searle in his bodybuilding days

Searle Snr first met Anastasia in 2005 when the pair worked together at Solar Bowl bowling alley.

Four years later she began dating Gary, after he also got a job at the bowling alley, and the couple had three children together.

In March last year former Ukip councillor Searle invited Anastasia to his office for coffee and told her he had not had sex in six years.

He then asked if she "wanted to make him happy", the Mirror reports.

21 Searle’s suspicious wife Anne, 62, discovered messages and explicit pictures sent between her husband and her son's partner Credit: � Facebook

21 Stephen Searle is said to have sent photos of himself as a young bodybuilder to his son's girlfriend during their sordid affair

The couple embarked on an affair for two months after Searle bombarded Anastasia with explicit texts and pictures from his bodybuilding days.

Anastasia said: "I felt dirty, I always had to have a shower straight after meeting him.”

Ipswich Crown Court heard yesterday how Anastasia had a son from a previous relationship who was a cadet in a troop Searle ran.

He even arranged regular illicit romps with his lover under the pretence of discussing the lad’s progress.

He nicknamed her SBG — short for Steve’s Beautiful Girl — and also ridiculed his wife of 45 years, calling her “a piece of s**t”.

21 Former Ukip councillor Stephen Searle, 64, with Nigel Farage. Searle killed his wife at their Suffolk home Credit: East Anglia News Service

21 Stephen Searle, 64, is pictured holding a massive rifle. He is a former Royal Marine Commando Credit: East Anglia News Service

21 Searle had served with 45 Commando in Arbroath Credit: East Anglia News Service

21 Searle, 64, made bizarre jokes to the police after murdering his wife in December Credit: PA:Press Association

But Mrs Searle discovered explicit text messages and pictures exchanged between the pair.

She decided to stay with her husband because she believed she was too old to start again.

But the heavy-drinking couple argued at their £400,000 home on December 30 and Searle strangled his wife using a choke hold he learned in the military.

He denied murder, claiming he had acted in self-defence after she tried to stab him in the stomach with a steak knife.

But Searle was convicted after a seven-day trial, after a jury heard he told cops: “I’ve been a very naughty boy.”

Searle was warned he faces life in prison when he is sentenced later today.

'I lost my mum and dad': Son of wife-killer Stephen Searle reacts to guilty verdict STEPHEN Searle Jr and read an emotional statement outside court alongside his wife Vicky today. He said: "As you are all well aware, today there has been justice for my mum, Anne Searle. "The thing is, this year not only have I lost my mum but my dad as well. "So now all I want to focus on is my family and friends who can help me through this year and more to come. "The part that hurts me the most is I lost my mum but the person who took my mum away was also my best friend, who was my dad. "So now it’s time to focus on my own family and kids and do the best I can for them.”

21 Searle, 64, with his wife Anne. He had denied murdering her, claiming he acted in self defence Credit: Supplied as a technical service. No is implied or inferred.

21 The scene at the Brickfields, Stowmarket, in December 2017 when Anne Searle's body was found Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

21 Stephen Searle Jr gave an emotional statement outside court following the guilty verdict Credit: Albanpix

21 Stephen Searle Jr with his wife Vicky outside Ipswich Crown Court today Credit: Albanpix

Outside court yesterday, Searle’s youngest son Stephen, 29, said: “As you are all well aware, today there has been justice for my mum.

“This year not only have I lost my mum but my dad as well. The part that hurts me the most is the person who took my mum away was also my best friend, my dad.”

He earlier said in an impact statement: “The relationship between me and my brothers has been torn apart.

“It has left a void in my heart which is something I will never get over.

'I've just killed my wife': Chilling 999 call from killer commando Stephen Searle after strangling his wife SUFFOLK Police today released a chilling audio clip of the moment Searle called police to tell them he had murdered his wife, Anne: Call handler: "Hello, can you hear me? Searle: "Yeah, I can hear you, can you hear me?" CH: "Yep." S: "I've er... just killed my wife" CH:"You've just killed your wife." S: "Yeah." CH: "Okay." S: "Bit different for you tonight I expect...Happy New Year." CH: "...and how have you killed her?" S: "Erm... suffocation really, I guess. Bit of a bizarre situation but you know... nevermind. CH: "Okay, is it just the two of you in the house?" S: "Er... well just the one of us now." CH: "Right, okay." S: "Well two... if you like." CH: "Okay, is there any other sort of issues that the officers need to be aware of when they come into the house? Is there anything dangerous?" S: "Erm, not really. I'm not violent, I'm not nothing." CH: "Stephen, can I just get you to go and answer the door? I believe we should have some officers there. Are you able to just go and speak to them?" S: "Okay, they're here now, are they?" CH: "They should be there." S: "Alright, I'm on me way." CH: "Okay." S: "I'm on me way as we speak...ah, hello buddies! How are you, alright?"

21 Searle served with 45 Commando and was a Ukip councillor Credit: East Anglia News Service

21 Searle and wife Anne at a wedding. They married each other 45 years ago Credit: Supplied as a technical service. No is implied or inferred.

21 Searle will be sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court tomorrow Credit: East Anglia News Service

“Losing my mum has destroyed me. It has left me completely broken.

“If my dad had just admitted what he had done and been honest, it would not have had to go to court.”

Mr Justice Green remanded Searle in custody until today.

Outside the court Det Chief Supt Eamonn Bridger, of Suffolk Police, said: “Anne Searle’s death was a tragic crime and our sympathies remain with her family and friends.”

MOST READ IN NEWS HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker pays customer’s bill after he calls mum to ask for her order STORE TOT SNATCH Family's horror as 'kidnap gang try to rip girl, 1, from pram' in TK Maxx Exclusive PIERS PRESSURE Couple wiped out village's internet for 18 MONTHS to watch Piers on £30 TV Exclusive HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker who paid for lad’s meal has secretly bought food for MONTHS NEVER FORGET PM & celebs backs The Sun's campaign to save the Poppy Appeal from coronavirus DOMINANT STRAIN New Covid mutation is 'more contagious & could adapt to get round masks'