Family's relief as victim's body is found

The family of Kate Prout, who was murdered by her husband four years ago, have spoken of their relief that police have found her remains.

Mrs Prout's older brother, Richard Wakefield, said the years since she went missing in 2007 have been like a "prison sentence" for him and his wife, Linda, after Adrian Prout refused to admit to the murder.

Last week, Prout, 49, who was convicted of his wife's murder in February last year, confessed to killing her. He took officers to an area of woodland on his £1.2 m farm in Redmarley, Gloucestershire, and revealed where he had buried her.

Gloucestershire Police confirmed the body had been formally identified as that of Mrs Prout. Prout was thought to have strangled her and then used his expertise as a professional pipe-layer to bury her body.

During the trial last year, jurors heard that Mrs Prout had confronted her husband with an increased divorce demand the day before she went missing. He had offered her a settlement of £600,000, but she decided to demand £800,000.

Mr Wakefield added: "We now feel relieved to have Kate back and so that we can put Kate to rest at last."