A murderer who stabbed his girlfriend to death and dumped her in the bath tub before going on the run with his neighbour has been jailed for life.
Michael Foran admitted strangling June Jones, 33, and knifing her 15 times in the neck and heart on December 10 last year.
The 33-year-old then hid the mum-of-three's body under throws in the empty tub and told her family she was with friends when they tried to contact her.
She lay undiscovered for three weeks until police broke into their home in West Bromwich, West Midlands, on the morning of New Year's Eve last year.
After kicking down the front door officers found June's body in the "blood spattered" bathroom.
Police launched a nationwide manhunt for Foran who was captured on CCTV leaving Ms Jones' flat shortly after the murder.
The cold-blooded killer is seen on the video laughing as he flees the flat with his accomplice after leaving June's body in the bath.
Foran escaping to Liverpool in his friend Keith O'Dwyer's car.
He was eventually arrested when police received a tip-off and found him begging outside a Poundland store in Liverpool.
He initially denied murder but on Friday he changed his plea to guilty and was jailed for a minimum of 17 years at Wolverhampton Crown Court .
Foran's neighbour O'Dwyer, 35, who drove him to Liverpool in his Range Rover, was jailed for 16 months for assisting an offender.
After the sentencing, Ms Jones' family released a touching tribute to their daughter, who was known as Katie.
They said: "Today, justice has been done for our beloved Katie.
"Finally, Michael Foran faced up to the gravity of the overwhelming evidence against him, forcing him to plead guilty to Katie's murder.
"We as a family know that the guilty plea will never bring Katie back to us or justify the long term suffering he inflicted upon her and subsequently us.
"We will always miss Katie and will know she will be forever in our hearts.
"We now as a family hope to move on now justice has been done and Katie can finally rest in peace."
Detective Inspector Nick Barnes, from the force's homicide team, said: "Katie was murdered in the most horrific circumstances.
"The level of violence used by Foran was despicable.
"Knowing what he'd done, he left Katie in her flat and carried on with his life.
"When he realised police had discovered Katie's body, he fled in an effort to evade capture.
"He clearly didn't want to take responsibility for his actions and thought he could get away from police.
"I hope his acknowledgement of guilt offers some comfort to Katie's family, who have been extremely brave throughout this traumatic time.
"My thoughts remain with them as they come to terms with their loss."
