THE husband of a mother- of-two murdered by a violent convict only three days after he was released from custody, said he hoped he would be locked up for ever.

Jacqueline Ross, 44, from New Mills, Derbyshire, was bludgeoned to death with a rock as she took her dog for a walk along a canal.

Ben Redfern-Edwards, 21, from Disley, Cheshire, was convicted unanimously by a jury at Chester Crown Court of the murder of Mrs Ross, who had two sons, Ben, seven, and Oliver, four. He will be sentenced later.

As the verdict was read out the defendant laughed and made an offensive gesture to Mrs Ross's family, who sat weeping at the back of court.

As he was taken down he spat at them and members of the police.

The court heard that Redfern-Edwards, who had a string of previous convictions, was so scared of going back to prison that he killed Mrs Ross so she would not report him after he punched her because her dog had barked at him.

He had been on an all-night drinking session to celebrate his release from prison after serving just under two years of a four-and-a-half year sentence for attempted armed robbery and possessing an imitation firearm.

Speaking after the verdict Mrs Ross's husband, Michael, described the killer as a "low life": "I would like to see him locked up forever."