SUB-POSTMASTER Robin Garbutt has been found guilty of beating his wife to death and sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of twenty years.

The 45-year-old was today convicted of murder at Teesside Crown Court by the jury of eight men and four women.

Mr Garbutt killed his 40-year-old wife, Diana, by hitting her three times over the head with a metal bar in the early hours of March 23 last year.

He then faked a robbery at the The Village Shop and Post Office, in Melsonby, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, an attempt to cover up his crime.

During the four-week trial, the jury heard how the defendant had debts of £30,000 on six credit cards.

His wife had relationships with three other men, had signed up to a dating site and had discussed moving out.

• Read extended reports of the trial in tomorrow's Northern Echo.