Colin Dymon has been jailed after admitting strangling and stabbing Sarah Pollock to death after becoming enraged over text messages she received from her new partner

Building contract manager Colin Dymond strangled and stabbed Sarah Pollock at her home in Avon Close, Springbourne, before driving to his girlfriend’s house in Eastleigh for a cup of tea.

The 53-year-old then returned to Ms Pollock’s home where he pulled a duvet over her body and scrawled on the wall: “The price you pay Sarah.”

At Winchester Crown Court, Dymond, who gave his address as Avon Close at an earlier court hearing, admitted murdering Ms Pollock, 42, on March 25 this year.

The court heard “controlling” Dymond throttled his former partner before inflicting two “severe” stab wounds to her neck with a 15-centimetre blade taken from the kitchen.

A pathologist also discovered that pressure had been exerted on Ms Pollock’s chest, and was likely to have been caused by her abdomen having been “knelt on or trodden on”.

Kerry Maylin, prosecuting, said the couple had a “turbulent history”, adding: “Dymond was at times difficult and paranoid.”

Ms Pollock, pictured below, had received a series of text messages from her new partner in the time before she died, Ms Maylin said. Dymond told police during interview that he had gone to Ms Pollock’s for breakfast.

When he was there, she received a text message, which he believed had been sent by a man, and he “became enraged”, it was said.

After killing Ms Pollock, Dymond drove to his partner’s home, where he appeared “agitated” but drank a cup of tea.

He then returned to Avon Close, letting himself in with a spare key, and covered Ms Pollock’s body as he “didn’t wish to see her like that,” Ms Maylin said.

On that visit to the property, Dymond wrote on a wall that Ms Pollock had been adulterous to him, adding: “I have killed myself.”

He penned: “Sorry I snapped,” and referred to Ms Pollock as “his life” before signing off: “I worshipped you. Rest in peace. All my love xx.”

Around 15 minutes later, he left the flat and drove to London where he parked his car before taking a coach and train back to Southampton.

Police were called by worried colleagues after Ms Pollock failed to arrived for work that morning.

Two officers discovered her body in the flat at around 3.25pm that day, and Dymond was later arrested at his partner’s house.

Mitigating, Nigel Pascoe QC told Judge Keith Cutler: “His life is over,” adding that Dymond is “devastated” by his actions, which were not premeditated.

“There was a loss of control that has not been elevated into an attempted defence,” he said.

Judge Cutler said: “This was a callous and deliberate murder fuelled by jealousy and rage, and he impact on her family is truly immense and cannot be underestimated.”

Dymond was sentenced to life behind bars, and will serve a minimum term of 16-and-a-half years before he can be considered for release.

In a statement, Sarah’s family said: “The horrifying realisation that such a cowardly individual chose to murder a loved member of our family has been very traumatic, especially after she had nursed him back to health, supporting him financially and emotionally."

Such kindness and compassion was typical of Sarah and the hearts of all our family are broken as we continue to contend with the knowledge that Sarah’s final moments in this world consisted of being alone, frightened and literally struggling for her life in the face of a cold-blooded despicable murderer.

“She undoubtedly experienced levels of panic and fear that no one should ever have to as she fought for her very survival.

“Our mother – six years after losing our father and her partner of 50 years – had to experience every parent’s worst nightmare of burying their youngest daughter.

“No words can do justice of our feelings towards Sarah’s murderer. He is truly evil and whatever time he ends up spending in jail is immaterial and cannot begin to make up for the loss of Sarah.

“As a family we would like to thank Dorset Police, in particular the investigating team, for all their hard work. It is due to their dedication that justice in the eyes of the law has been served.

“We would also like to thank our assigned Family Liaison Officer and the Victim Support Unit for all their support throughout this entire process.

“We respectfully request to be left alone to continue to grieve and remember Sarah.”

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Mark Samuel, of Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “This was a callous and brutal stabbing.

“Sarah’s family and friends have been left devastated by her tragic death and I hope today’s conviction will in time bring some small comfort that justice has been served.

“Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”

Kerry Maylin, Principal Crown Advocate for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wessex, said: “Colin Dymond’s jealousy consumed him, and pushed him to attack savagely Sarah Pollock, his partner in the safety of her own home.

“Sarah Pollock had confided to her friend and colleague how jealous, violent and paranoid he was. She had described that while they were together he had wanted her for himself, despite the fact that he was having affairs with other women.

“He was increasingly jealous of her making friends with other males and had, at one stage put his hands around her throat. Her friends and family were extremely concerned and were keeping an eye on her.”