A VICIOUS stalker who carried out a public execution of his ex-wife as she begged and screamed for help from horrified onlookers was jailed for life by a court yesterday.

Joseph Iley, 55, had just been released from a prison sentence for harassing Margaret Iley, 57, when he calmly plunged a blade into her neck and chest ten times, while helpless friends and neighbours looked on.

The mother-of-two had predicted her own death when she confided in a workmate: "He will end up murdering me."

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Iley, who was the subject of a restraining order when he carried out the killing, was as "cool as a cucumber" when he launched the attack in her back garden and seemed to enjoy what he was doing.

Iley even plunged the blade into Mrs Iley's dog, which had been biting him during the attack.

Judge David Hodson, who jailed Iley for life, said Iley must serve at least 16 years before he can apply for parole.

He said there was a "real prospect" that Iley will die behind bars.

The judge told him: "For years, you made her life a misery and on that day you finally brought it to an end by stabbing her to death in a premeditated, sustained, brutal and merciless attack, since which, you have shown no regret nor remorse for what you did. I'm prepared to accept there was no long-standing, carefully worked out plan to kill Margaret, but there is no doubt you went to the house with a clear intention of killing her."

The judge commended the neighbours for their brave and desperate efforts to stop the attack.

Paul Sloan, prosecuting, said: "Joseph Iley held her up by her hair into a sitting position then repeatedly thrust the knife into her neck and chest.

"He was not bothered an audience being present, he wanted everyone to see the pain he was inflicting.

The court heard how one neighbour picked up a length of pipe and another man picked up a wrench to try to beat Iley into stopping the attack, but he remained "completely undeterred".

Iley, of Emmerson Court, Horden, pleaded guilty to murder at an earlier hearing.

The couple had divorced in 1991, but he continued to live with her at her home in Smilie Road, Horden, County Durham, until he moved into his own flat in 2000.

Iley first came before the courts for attacking Mrs Iley in 2005 when he admitted common assault and was conditionally discharged for 12 months.

Then followed an intense campaign of stalking and harassment in a twisted bid to get her to take him back, including an attempt to strangle her for which he was given a suspended jail term.

In January this year, Iley was sentenced to 20 weeks jail for harassment and breach of the earlier suspended sentence and made the subject of a restraining order.

He was released from that sentence on February 1 and eight days later, on February 9, he killed his estranged wife.