A brutal killer who strangled his girlfriend in her own bed during a "sadistic" attack has been jailed.
Andrew Grimes, 38, admitted murdering 39-year-old mum Sophie Cartledge and two counts of sexual assault on her.
The ex-soldier had been walking around drunk before going back to Sophie's home in Bottesford, Scunthorpe on June 17 2020, carrying out the killing while her two children slept.
Tragically, she was discovered by her 15-year-old daughter the following morning.
Appearing at Hull Crown Court, Grimes was jailed for life for what we called a "devastating, tragic and wholly brutal" attack. He must serve a minimum sentence of 27 years before he can apply for parole.
Grimes "intended to kill", Judge John Thackray QC said and "there was a "violent and sadistic sexual assault" on the woman before she was murdered by strangling and suffocation.
Members of the victim's family were in court for the hearing.
In a statement, the teenage daughter who discovered her lifeless mother told Grimes: "I hope you are haunted by it. We thought you loved my mum."
The court heard how she had to come to terms with her mother's last hours on earth being "with the very worst of humanity".
She added: "My mum is gone and I am broken. She was my best friend. The feeling of loss is so great, it is visceral. With the sorrow comes waves of panic of never being able to see her again.
"My mum died in horrendous circumstances. I'm tormented at what she endured. It's torture to think about it.
"At the time of my mum's death, both my brother and I were home sleeping. My mum was dying and I was in the other room.
"I believe that night that neither [my brother] nor I heard anything for a reason. I believe my mum kept quiet to save the lives of her children."
he court was told that Grimes had spent up to 10 years in the Army, and suffered problems with his mental health.
Christopher Tehrani QC, mitigating, said: "He has come to terms a long time ago with what he did." Grimes knew there were no words to express "how sorry he is for the pain and sorrow he has caused to them, individually and collectively".
Sophie's family paid tribute to her and described her as "clever", "funny" and "caring" and said that her future was "stolen" in her own home but refused to comment on the sentencing.
Detective Inspector Grant Taylor said: “This is a dreadful case where a woman lost her life at the hands of a man who she trusted and loved.
“Andrew Grimes is a dangerous offender who used extreme violence and brute force and meted out a brutal attack that left Sophie with significant injuries which led to her death. I am reassured that he is now behind bars and unable to harm anyone else.
“I want to thank Sophie’s family for their bravery and unstinting support of our investigation.
“I also want to praise them for their fortitude in dealing with a situation which no family should ever have to cope with. Our thoughts remain with Sophie’s family and loved ones as they begin to build their lives without her."
