A JEALOUS boyfriend who stabbed a Huddersfield mother-of-four to death was given a life sentence by a judge yesterday.

Paul Walton plunged a knife into Theresa Simpson's heart during a violent confrontation last June.

He then chased after her teenage daughter when she discovered the shocking scene in the garden of their home at Roundway, Honley.

The 34-year-old, who had previous convictions for offences of violence and harassment towards two previous girlfriends, then used the murder weapon to slash someone across the face at Huddersfield bus station before finally being arrested later that same morning.

Bradford Crown Court heard on Monday how Simpson even sent his dying victim a text message saying: "I hope you're dead you bitch. Ha..ha.ha.."

Yesterday Honorary Recorder of Bradford Judge Stephen Gullick imposed a mandatory life sentence on Walton after he admitted Mrs Simpson's murder and wounding David Farrier with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

The judge ordered Walton, of Hopkinson Road, Sheepridge, to serve a minimum of 18 years and 68 days behind bars before being considered for release.

He passed a concurrent six-year prison sentence in respect of the unprovoked attack on David Farrier, which left him with a permanent scar on his left cheek.

Judge Gullick stressed the decision to release Walton in the future was up to the Parole Board and pointed out that the circumstances of the murder and his previous record would have be taken into account.

"They will have to be satisfied that you do not represent a risk to any woman with whom you may in the future associate with," noted Judge Gullick.

Mrs Simpson, 35, had had a stormy relationship for about a year with Walton.

A week before the fatal stabbing he had again moved out of her house.

But the couple met up by chance at a Huddersfield nightclub and, after returning to the house in the early hours, Walton, who had taken Ecstasy as well as alcohol, began going on at her.

Judge Gullick noted that a female friend of Mrs Simpson had already taken one knife off Walton, but he armed himself with another and stabbed his girlfriend through the heart after they had gone to a garden shed.

Mrs Simpson's friend had described Walton as being his usual "drunk, possessive and jealous self" that night and Judge Gullick said he had no doubt that the fatal attack was motivated by Walton's jealousy and fuelled by the drink and drugs.

"In my judgement your intention was to kill her and in that intention you succeeded," said Judge Gullick.

The judge dismissed Walton's recent expressions of remorse over the murder and said in his opinion the text message sent to Mrs Simpson's mobile phone was nearer the mark.