A man who strangled his disabled girlfriend to death with a dog lead has been jailed for life.

Matthew Hyde, 41, launched a vicious attack on Sara Bateman at her home in Willenhall Road, Willenhall in the West Midlands, on 28 March this year.

Hyde moved in with Ms Bateman shortly after meeting the 50-year-old and became her paid carer, supporting her with her disability and day-to-day needs.

An argument between the couple led to him killing the “vulnerable” mother, sister and grandmother, police said.

Hyde, of Wellington Place, Willenhall, then fled the scene – leaving Ms Bateman’s son to find her body two days later on 30 March – in what has been described as an act of “inexcusable cruelty”.

She was discovered with facial injuries, bruising and a dog lead around her neck.

Hyde was arrested within hours at a nearby address and later charged with Ms Bateman’s murder.

He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years at Wolverhampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to murder.

Paying tribute, Ms Bateman’s family said: “On that day, not only was our loving mum, sister and nan’s life taken, but ours was too.

“Nothing breaks our hearts more than having a world that no longer has her in it.”

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Detective Inspector Nick Barnes, from West Midlands Police CID, said Hyde had abused the trust of Ms Bateman “in the most deplorable way” by “viciously attacking her in what should have been the safety of her own home”.

“Sara ought to have felt secure in Hyde’s company. Instead, she fell victim to his violence,” he added.

“The manner in which Hyde fled the scene, knowing that Sara would be found by her own son, is inexcusably cruel.

“He took her life and left her family devastated.

“Although no sentence will reduce their pain, we hope that the justice served against Hyde will allow Sara’s family to move forward.”

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