A JEALOUS husband who bludgeoned his wife to death with a hammer was last night beginning a life sentence after being found guilty of murder.

Michael Luke, 45, faces at least 14 years behind bars after the Teesside jury returned a unanimous verdict.

His daughter, Kimberley, 17, who was supported by her aunt, Susan Ashton, and grandmother, Diane Richardson, silently mouthed the word "yes", before collapsing in tears.

Luke had to be helped from the dock after nearly collapsing as he was led away to start his sentence.

Luke, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Johanna, his wife of 18 years, on August 28 last year, said he "snapped" after finding out the 37-year-old had been having an affair.

It took the jury nearly four-and-a-half hours to return a verdict of guilty.

Judge Peter Fox, QC, told him: "I accept to a large extent that you are remorseful in the realisation of your deed, but that in large measure has been also tempered with a lot of self-pity.''

The judge said he accepted that there had been some provocation and that Luke was of previous good character, but recommended he serve at least 14 years.

Mrs Ashton and Kimberley spoke of their relief at the sentence.

They said the trial had been particularly difficult for the family.

Details of Mrs Luke's relationships with other men were revealed in an attempt to prove Luke's claims that he had been provoked when he hit her with a paving hammer in the family home, in Priory Gardens, Willington, County Durham.

Kimberley defended her mother saying: "She just wasn't like that.''

Mrs Ashton said: "We are obviously pleased with the verdict. Johanna had been so very unhappy for a number of years and, as I said in court, had tried to end her marriage so many times, but he would just not accept that fact.

"It has just been an emotional rollercoaster for the past 20 years.''

She condemned her brother-in-law for subjecting his children, particularly daughter Kimberley, to the two-week trial, in which her sister's character was called into question.