A devoted husband who murdered his wife after she begged him to help her die has been jailed for life with an order that he serves a minimum of three years.

Retired Bradford accountant Frank Lund, 58, admitted suffocating wife Patricia, 65, with a plastic bag and a pillow at their home last September.

He denied murder on the grounds that Mrs Lund, his wife of 33 years, had persuaded him to help her die after her life was made miserable by an irritable bowel condition.

His claims were not contested during a three-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court in which he was supported by his late wife's relatives.

But he was found guilty after the jury was told to put aside sympathy and judge him only on the fact that he deliberately killed his wife.

Andrew Menary QC, mitigating, said: "It was not in any way motivated by wickedness but only out of love. He has, as a consequence of this, lost the love of his life.

"He was totally devoted to his wife. He did what he did as he felt he had no choice. Her persistent requests wore him down; he felt there was no other course of action for him."

The court heard that Mrs Lund's sons, Stephen Olive, of Fagley, Bradford, and Daniel Olive-Lund, had sent letters to the judge asking for leniency and stating that their step-father was only before the court because he loved his wife "absolutely and selflessly".

Mr Justice Silver described the case as "highly unusual if not unique".

He said: "It is the duty of citizens in this country not to take any steps which might lead to the death of another citizen. To assist someone to commit suicide is a serious offence."

The judge sentenced Lund to life and ordered him to serve a minimum of three years for killing his wife at their home in New Brighton, Merseyside, Outside court, Mr Lund's solicitor, John Weate, said: "This brings an end to a tragic, sad and unique case. The whole events have devastated the families of Stephen and Daniel, the natural sons of Mrs Lund and the stepsons of Frank Lund.

"They have suffered grief twice over and are devastated not only at the loss of their beloved mother but also at the consequences suffered by Mr Lund.

"What they accept completely is that what Frank Lund did was done out of love, loyalty and devotion and not out of wickedness or animosity.

"The law, they feel, has not properly catered for what has happened and he will enjoy their continued love and support throughout his sentence."

Mr Olive said of his mother: "She would have found what Frank has had to go through, this process, absolutely devastating and disgraceful."