Man found guilty of Banstead murder

A jealous gardener has been jailed for life after murdering his mistress in Banstead Woods.

Peter Ling, 50, battered Lynda Casey, 54, to death with a rock after discovering she was having a second affair and telling him 'You're not big enough for me,' the Old Bailey heard.

Ling claimed he "snapped" when he discovered his lover was sleeping with another man after hacking into her email account.

The self-employed gardener had planned to leave his wife of 23 years for the evening class teacher.

He organised a meeting with Mrs Casey in the woods on August 8 last year, and claims the couple had sex before confronting her about her other affair.

He then claimed she refused to reveal anything further about her love life.

In a fit of rage Ling repeatedly beat her across the face and head with rock, shattering almost every bone in her skull.

Sobbing hysterically as he gave evidence, Ling claimed he looked at her phone and discovered dozens of 'sex texts' and pornographic picture images of her and another man.

Mrs Casey, a mother-of-three, was still alive when Ling got into his car and drove off.

Her decomposing body was found five days later, partially naked and hidden by undergrowth, after Ling confessed to his wife and police that he had killed her.

But Ling, of Wallington, denied murder claiming Mrs Casey had provoked him by mocking his "physical sexual adequacy".

He was found guilty of murder today at the Old Bailey and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 18 years.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Raymer, of Surrey Police's major crime investigation team, said: "Lynda Casey was a mother and grandmother and was much loved by her family and friends.

"She no longer wanted any kind of relationship with Peter Ling and, knowing this, he lured her to a secluded location and murdered her using brute force.

"There can be no justification for the savagery of the attack she suffered."

Following the verdict, Mrs Casey's family released following statement:

"Mum is dearly missed by her family and everyone who knew her. She was a loving, cheerful and kind person who helped others wherever and however she could. She loved seeing others achieve their goals.

"The void her untimely and tragic death leaves behind is immense, too deep and painful to put into words, not only for us, her daughters, but for her seven grandchildren who miss her terribly.

"The suddenness and unfair circumstances in which mum died only compounds our grief as she was young and had so much to live for.

"We had so many plans together and being denied the chance to say goodbye is hard to bear."