A DRIVING instructor has been jailed for life after he was found guilty of murdering his former partner.

Nigel Pickard, 45, strangled 29-year-old hairdresser Laura Smith, the mother of his one-year-old daughter.

Leeds Crown Court was told Pickard attacked Miss Smith during a visit to her parent’s home in Scarborough, on July 11, with their child yards away.

Her parents were out at the time of the attack and the child’s cries could be heard on the recording of the 999 call Pickard made.

Pickard, of Filey Road, Scarborough, denied murder – saying he had never intended to kill her.

A post-mortem examination revealed that he must have been squeezing her neck for up to two minutes. She died the next day in Scarborough Hospital.

The court heard how the couple had separated in May and Pickard visited their daughter on weekends.

However, he developed a possessive and obsessive relationship with Miss Smith, and was unable to come to terms with their seperation Detective Inspector Andrea Kell, of Scarborough’s protecting vulnerable persons unit, said: “There was never any doubt that Pickard was responsible for Laura’s death.

“However, he consistently denied that he intended to kill her. Having heard the evidence, the jury has seen through his tissue of lies.”