A man has been sentenced to a minimum of 27 years for the murder​ of his estranged wife in Plymouth.

Paul Butler, 53, of Stangray Avenue, Plymouth, previously pleaded guilty to murdering 48-year-old university lecturer Claire Chick in January.

Ms Chick was found seriously injured in West Hoe Road on the evening of 22 January and taken to hospital, but died in the early hours the next day.

Judge Robert Linford at Plymouth Crown Court said he was anticipating some “difficult and tense” proceedings which he knew would be “fraught with emotion”.