Melanie Elsbury had been harassed by her husband before their marriage

Christopher Elsbury, 29, had denied battering mother-of-three Melanie, 27, then using a towel to strangle her.

A Cardiff Crown Court jury found him guilty and the judge said he should serve at least 16 years in prison.

After the trial, Mrs Elsbury's mother called him evil and pledged to help other victims of domestic violence.

After the verdict, it was revealed that Elsbury had a string of previous convictions for violence, including offences against his wife before they were married.

A post-mortem examination found Mrs Elsbury had more than 50 injuries.

Despite her protestations of love with her dying breath, it appears he continued to strangle the life from her Paul Lewis, prosecuting

Mrs Elsbury's mother, Julie Crumpton, said after the verdict: "The evil man who took our daughter, Christopher, Jodie and Dafydd's mother and Carly and Darren's sister away is where he belongs - behind bars for a very long time.

"Now we turn our attention to helping others. We will champion the changes in legislation and law which are so needed if we together with the police are to really make a difference.

'Horrible death'

"We know there are more victims out there - you know who you are.

"My message to you is do not suffer in silence, help others help you before it is too late. You don't have to be a victim."

The court heard that Elsbury attacked his wife after they returned from a family party because she had become upset at him watching women in miniskirts.

Mr Justice Butterfield told Elsbury: "Angered by your wife's complaint that you were looking at other women and fuelled by alcohol, you attacked her."

The judge said: "It was a dreadful ordeal and a horrible death."

Mr Elsbury's mother, Cherie, called police after he phoned her to say what he had done. Officers found him at his home clutching photographs of the couple together and her wedding ring.

The judge was 'quite satisfied' Elsbury intended to kill his wife

He was arrested and told officers: "She got under my skin like only a wife can do".

Paul Lewis, QC, prosecuting, told the jury: "He told police officers he had argued with Melanie that evening as she was upset at him looking at women who were wearing short skirts."

He said: "He repeated this several times in the course of the interview and identified that as being the catalyst for the fight he said led to her death."

Mrs Elsbury's final words were that she loved him, he said.

Mr Lewis said: "Despite her protestations of love with her dying breath, it appears he continued to strangle the life from her."

Elsbury had denied murder and during his trial the jury heard he had spent time in care when young and was suffering from psychological problems.

The couple had first met while he was in care and they began a relationship after a chance meeting years later.

The court heard that before they married he had harassed her, going to her home and drawing his finger across his throat in a threatening manner.

Elsbury also approached her in the street and spat in her face, shouting abuse.

He also gained entry to her home, opening a fridge and burning blankets with an iron.

'Intention to kill'

Mark Evans QC, defending, had earlier said the fact Elsbury had convictions for a variety of offences of violence was not surprising given his background.

He said Elsbury had had a "stormy" relationship with his wife.

But the judge told Elsbury: "I am quite satisfied you intended to kill her. Any provocation in my judgment was trivial to the extreme.

"I am unpersuaded your post-traumatic stress symptoms had anything to do with the murder."

Melanie Elsbury's body was found at the marital home in Bridgend

After the trial, Mrs Elsbury's mother said: "The evil man who took our daughter, Christopher, Jodie and Dafydd's mother and Carly and Darren's sister away is where he belongs - behind bars for a very long time.

Julie Crumpton said: "We know there are more victims out there - you know who you are.

"My message to you is do not suffer in silence, help others help you before it is too late. "You don't have to be a victim."