Wendy Mann murder: The pure jealousy that drove a mother's killer

First, he tried to put her new lover out of the picture by bludgeoning him with a hammer and stabbing him in the neck after luring him to his house.

But that failed when his bloodsoaked victim managed to get away when Sterling's attack was interrupted by family members calling at his door.

Six weeks later, he murdered his former partner Wendy Mann.

Sterling, aged 63, was jailed for life after being found guilty of her murder and the attempted murder of Trevor Tyndale yesterday.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Sterling left his house in Guns Lane, West Bromwich, early on August 27, 2015.

CCTV captured a figure appearing to emerge from his home, heading in the direction of Miss Mann's flat in Chapel Street.

Mr Tyndale, Miss Mann's new lover and victim of the Sterling attack six weeks earlier, told the court he saw a hooded man 'hanging around' near her flat when he left at 6.30am.

Over the next few hours, Sterling went into his ex-partner's home and strangled the 26-year-old.

The jury heard how there was no signs of forced entry into the flat, suggesting Miss Mann knew her killer and had let him in.

Prosecutor Mr Mark Hayward said Sterling went there for 'at least a row' but their meeting ended with the mother-of-three lying dead in her kitchen.

She had been dragged from the living room as the life was being squeezed out of her. Experts said she may have also received a blow to her head before being strangled.

Nothing was heard from Miss Mann from around 10am. Normally a prolific texter, friends and family grew concerned as her phone remained switched off for the rest of the day.

Miss Mann's brother and his partner went round to her house at around 10pm to check on her.

They thought it unusual that her window was open at that time but decided they would come back the next morning with the spare key. When they did they found her lying motionless on the floor.

One of the first people who was called was Sterling.

Although he and Miss Mann were no longer together, Sterling would still see the family because of the children.

Miss Mann's brother Stephen told Sterling down the phone that he thought she was dead. Sterling claimed in court this was the first he knew of her death – and broke down in tears at recalling the phone call – but the jury did not buy it.

Inconsistencies in his story came to light. When arrested over the attack on Mr Tyndale, he told police his love rival had picked up a knife from his kitchen before launching an attack on him.

But he told the jury in court Mr Tyndale had brought the knife into his home from outside.

CCTV footage was also damning, showing a figure leaving Guns Lane, where Sterling lived, and heading towards Chapel Street using a white phone. At that exact moment, Miss Mann had received a call from her son's phone – which was white.

A figure was then picked up walking back the other way carrying a bag over his shoulder. The children's clothes were missing from Miss Mann's flat after she was found dead and it was suggested Sterling had taken them as he knew they would never see their mother again.

Sterling's DNA was found on Miss Mann's body, but none from Mr Tyndale who had spent the night with her.

The prosecution suggested that pointed to Sterling having had contact with her after she had showered that morning. Neighbours also told how the pair had rowed over her relationship with Mr Tyndale.

Sentencing Sterling to life in prison, Judge James Burbidge told him: "While she had problems she had a decent network of support, loving brothers, a sister-in-law and a number of friends and neighbours helping her. The tragedy is at the age of 63 you have lived a decent and law abiding life since arriving in the country in 2001.

"Your actions have also deprived these children at possibly the time of greatest need, growing up, their father figure."