THE parents of murdered Jacquie Kent yesterday spoke of their satisfation that her killer had been jailed for life.

Bristol Crown Court heard on Friday that Mrs Kent's former lover Michael Wyatt strangled her to death at her Swindon home. He had became obsessed with her after meeting her through a dating agency.

When she started seeing another man he decided she had to die.

Mrs Kent's mother Valerie Barker, 68, of Freshbrook, said: "We're very pleased with the result and we feel that he's got what he deserved. We feel that justice has been done a bit for Jacquie and we now just have to get on with life and make the most of it.

"We miss her dreadfully, all of us do, but we've got her son Dan, 13, to think about now. We all look after each other and we've got a few holidays planned which will be nice."

In August locals at Mrs Kent's favourite pub, The Abbey Meads, raised nearly £5,000 for Daniel during a weekend of fundraising.

"Daniel wants to go to Center Parcs so that's what we'll be doing. He's a brilliant boy and he's living with his dad but we still see him practically every day," said Mrs Barker.

Twelve family members and friends will go to Center Parcs in April just a few days before what would have been Jacquie's birthday.

"It'll be nice to get the family all together and hopefully have a fun day out and we're very grateful to everyone who have made it possible," said Mrs Barker.

the court heard how Wyatt, 47, of Danestone Close, Middleleaze, took a Stanley knife to Mrs Kent's home in Lewis Close, Abbey Meads, and slashed her neck on June 27 last year.

However, the wound was not deep enough and following a 35-minute attack on Mrs Kent, 42, he resorted to strangling her, the court heard.

Wyatt, who admitted the murder, then attempted to commit suicide by swallowing Paracetamol.

He then climbed into bed beside the dead woman he had idolised. When he failed to kill himself he left the house and later turned himself into the police.

Wyatt will have to serve a minimum of 16 years for the killing.

Members of Mrs Kent's family, including her parents, struggled to hold back their tears as Wyatt was sentenced.

Oba Nsugbe, prosecuting , told the court how Mrs Kent had become interested in dating agencies following the end of her second marriage and met Wyatt at speed dating at a Swindon bar in April 2004.

"The relationship was short-lived because she didn't feel the same way about him.

"She was content to remain friends. It was a friendship that was to cost her life," said Mr Nsugbe.

He said the defendant was "annoyed and frustrated" when she finished with him.

He said Wyatt's diary entries revealed he had spied on her home and made notes about the men she saw.

By May 2005 the defendant was living with a former girlfriend called Christina Smith.

He told her he had argued with Mrs Kent.