A DRUG addict has been found guilty of the brutal murder of a woman with whom he had rekindled a relationship with over Facebook.

David Hoyle, 39, of Idle Road, Bradford, repeatedly stabbed Rebecca Bamber, 43, with knives and bottles during a drunken row at her home.

He was yesterday jailed for life with an order that he serves a minimum of 25 years after he was found guilty of Miss Bamber's murder by a jury at Chester Crown Court.

He had previously admitted her manslaughter but had denied her murder.

The pair had previously been in a relationship 15 years ago.

They had not been in contact for many years and Miss Bamber had relocated to Cheshire but, in May this year, the pair reconnected via social media and rekindled their relationship.

They had met on a number of occasions in both Bradford and Cheshire but the night before Rebecca died in June is believed to have been the first time that Hoyle had visited her home in Mersey Road, Widnes.

The jury was told that the couple had spent the night drinking together before Hoyle attacked her in the morning.

A neighbour raised the alarm when he heard screams coming from the house and then saw Miss Bamber, at her window, covered in blood, mouthing 'phone the police'.

The court was told the neighbour rang 999 and went to the back of the house and saw Hoyle in the garden with Miss Bamber.

She had collapsed on the ground and he was standing over her with a knife. The neighbour went back to his own house to find something to defend himself with.

He stayed on the line to the call handler and went back to the garden but Hoyle had gone.

He then saw Hoyle, still holding a knife, drive away from the scene in a white van, and, chillingly, smile at him as he passed.

The neighbour gave the 999 call handler the van's registration and then went back into the house to see if anyone else was there.

A woman from a nearby shop came over to see what was happening and the neighbour asked her to press some material onto MissBamber’s wounds to stop the blood.

The 999 call with CCTV images from the scene was played to the jury.

The neighbour, clearly distressed and breathing heavily, is heard telling Miss Bamber: "It's all right Becky, I'm here, the police are on their way, it's all right darling, stay awake."

Police caught up with Hoyle near to the Runcorn Bridge but he rammed their vehicles and drove off on to the M56, where he was again stopped and Tasered. He was arrested, made no comment in interview and was said to be calm throughout.

After Hoyle was found guilty of murder, Richard Riley, Senior Crown Prosecutor with Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service, said: said: “Hoyle’s claim that he hadn't meant to kill her was ridiculous – she had been stabbed 11 times with two different knives and three broken bottles.

“The jury dismissed these claims and has found Hoyle guilty of murder.

“I would like to thank Miss Bamber’s neighbour for the courage he showed throughout this dreadful incident. His 999 call was the key to putting a very dangerous man behind bars.”

Detective Inspector Helen Spooner, of Cheshire Police, who led the investigation, said: "Hoyle′s attack was brutal, sustained and shocking - the level of violence used was extreme and the injuries sustained by Rebecca were devastating. She had clearly tried to desperately fight off her attacker but was overpowered by him.

"We will probably never know the real reason behind Hoyle′s actions that day − only he knows why he subjected Rebecca to such a brutal attack in her own home.

"Hoyle has shown no remorse for what he did five months ago and I can only hope that his time behind bars will allow him to reflect upon what he has done and the consequences of that - both to Rebecca and all those who loved her and knew her."