STEWART DALE has this afternoon been jailed for at least 30 years for the “sadistic” murder of Oxford grandmother Jennifer Hume.

Ms Hume, 55, was stabbed and beaten by 28-year-old Dale in his Horspath caravan in May.

A jury found him guilty of murder today at Guildford Crown Court. Speaking outside court, Ms Hume’s brother Billy Hume, said: “Today Stewart Dale has been found guilty of Jenny's murder. This is the right verdict.

“Jenny was taken too soon. Her family will miss and always love her. No sentence however long will compensate for our loss."

Det Ch Insp Joe Kidman, from Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime team, said: “This guilty verdict comes after the jury have listened carefully to the evidence gathered by the investigation. 

“That evidence tells to story of an attack of extraordinary brutality. They jury also reached their verdict having heard Dale give chilling and disturbing accounts, both in police interview and in court, of the terrible violence he inflicted on Jenny Hume in taking her life.

“The minimum 30 year term of his life sentence reflects the sadistic nature of the attack, which Judge Critchlow described as being of truly exceptional brutality.

"I would like to pay tribute to the dignity shown by Mr Hume, Jenny’s brother who represented the family and offer TVP condolences to all her family and friends.”