A JUDGE paid tribute to a murdered foster mother who looked after more than 50 children, saying she was a "remarkable woman who lived life to the full".

Norma Bell, 79, and her late husband John brought up three sons and six long-term foster children they treated as their own in their Hartlepool home.

She was strangled there in April by Gareth Dack, 33, whom she had known since he was a boy.

Sentencing Dack, Mrs Justice Whipple told his victim's grieving family who packed the public gallery and the vacated jury box: "Norma Bell had an extraordinary ability with children, using that ability she did a vast amount of good in her life time."

The Northern Echo:

VICTIM AND KILLER: Norma Bell and Gareth Dack

Calling her "remarkable", the judge said Mrs Bell gave love unquestioningly to her children and foster children.

The judge said one foster child remembered: "Life was brilliant growing up with Norma Bell and John. They spoiled me rotten. They were always there for me."

Another recalled: "Growing up was a wonderful experience. John and Norma were amazing parents."

And a third, said she had been bullied for being fostered, but the judge quoted her saying:  "My mam told me to be proud of who I was and said I was a chosen child, and I should be  proud of that and not ashamed."

A month short of her 80th birthday when she was murdered, Mrs Bell had been in good spirits and health, would walk for miles and was often seen around Hartlepool chatting to people she knew or reading a book on a bench in a spot with a nice view.

"She would go line dancing with friends and had an exercise bike in her home for days when the weather was bad," the judge said.

"One of her children said she was one of the fittest 79-year-olds you would ever meet."

Mrs Justice Whipple said: "The picture is of a very happy, stable, loving family, with Norma Bell at the centre of it."

The judge paid tribute to Mrs Bell, who looked after more than 50 children, saying she was a "remarkable woman".

The 79-year-old and her late husband John brought up three sons and six long-term foster children they treated as their own in their Hartlepool home.

Sentencing Dack, Mrs Justice Whipple told his victim's grieving family, who packed the public gallery and the vacated jury box: "Norma Bell had an extraordinary ability with children, using that ability she did a vast amount of good in her lifetime."

Calling her "remarkable", the judge said Mrs Bell gave love unquestioningly to her children and foster children.

The judge said one foster child remembered: "Life was brilliant growing up with Norma Bell and John. They spoiled me rotten. They were always there for me."

Another recalled: "Growing up was a wonderful experience. John and Norma were amazing parents."

And a third said she had been bullied for being fostered, but the judge quoted her saying: "My mam told me to be proud of who I was and said I was a chosen child, and I should be proud of that and not ashamed."

A month short of her 80th birthday when she was murdered, Mrs Bell had been in good spirits and health, would walk for miles and was often seen around Hartlepool chatting to people she knew or reading a book on a bench in a spot with a nice view.

"She would go line dancing with friends and had an exercise bike in her home for days when the weather was bad," the judge said.

"One of her children said she was one of the fittest 79-year-olds you would ever meet."

Mrs Justice Whipple said: "The picture is of a very happy, stable, loving family, with Norma Bell at the centre of it.

"Hers was a life lived to the full."