Man murdered make-up artist wife

David Chenery-Wickens, 52, of Duddleswell, had denied the murder of Diane, 48, and dumping her body after she vanished in January 2008.

He told Lewes Crown Court she had planned to disappear to escape financial and work worries.

Chenery-Wickens was told he would serve a minimum of 18 years in jail.

The TV make-up artist's decomposed body was found off Worth Lane, Little Horsted, near Uckfield, last May...

Adulterous minister 'murdered BBC make-up artist wife'

David Chenery-Wickens, 51, was described as a "sexual predator" who had the "clearest motive and the obvious opportunity" to kill his 48-year-old wife Diane, an award-winning artist who had worked on programmes including Dead Ringers, The League Of Gentlemen and Casualty.

Opening the case at his trial for her murder, prosecutor Philip Katz QC said Mrs Chenery-Wickens had discovered her husband was cheating on her and phoning adult men-only chatlines.

Although qualified as a spiritualist minister, he rarely worked, had mounting debts and relied financially on his wife, Mr Katz said. He had also untruthfully told friends that he and his wife were going through a divorce and that their home was on the market, he alleged...