Conman facing life for lover murder
A "brutal and sadistic" conman who murdered and mutilated the body of his secret lover after cheating her out of more than £60,000 is facing a life sentence.
Businesswoman Diana Lee, 54, was bludgeoned to death at her home in affluent East Cheshire by her debt-ridden boyfriend David Ryan, a trial at Chester Crown Court heard.
Ryan, 48, of Byrom Street, Altrincham, spent the cash he stole from Ms Lee on IVF treatment for his wife and a list of other luxuries, the court heard. He denied murder but was found guilty by a jury of six men and six women.
The divorcee's naked body was found face down and mutilated in a wheelbarrow full of wood by firefighters who were called to attend a blaze at her gated detached property in the leafy village of Cranage, near Holmes Chapel, on August 9 last year.
Ms Lee - the owner of a "luxury cattery" - suffered fatal head wounds from "a sustained attack with a blunt object" and was mutilated by Ryan in a bid to get rid of DNA evidence, the jury heard.
Assistant Chief Constable Ruth Purdie, of Cheshire Police, said: "David Ryan gave Diana attention and affection and preyed on her trusting and kind nature for his own ends. We now know that his intentions toward Diana were fuelled by greed and Ryan's intention to exploit her financially to try and recover himself from the mountain of debt he faced.
"We have been left in little doubt that Ryan's attack on Diana - a diminutive and gentle lady - was brutal and sadistic. He showed contempt and compounded his disregard for her when he did his utmost to remove DNA evidence and then destroy her body."
She added: "Although Ryan refused to admit his guilt in this horrific murder, the prosecution were able to prove that he concocted a web of lies and brutally murdered a woman who had done nothing more than fall for the charm of a conman."
Ryan, with greying, shoulder-length hair and wearing a grey suit, white shirt and striped tie, gave no reaction as the verdict was delivered.
Adjourning sentence until 10am on Friday, Mr Justice Henriques said the case against Ryan was "absolutely overwhelming".
