A BRADFORD man who murdered a woman and buried her body had his sentence increased following intervention from the Solicitor General at a Court of Appeal hearing today.

Dale Tarbox, who was convicted for the murder of Susan Howells, has had his 16-year prison sentence increased to 18 years.

Commenting on the sentence increase, the Solicitor General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, said: "Tarbox murdered a vulnerable victim and showed no remorse for his despicable actions.

"No sentence can repair the damage he caused, but I hope the Court of Appeal’s decision today gives some closure to the victim’s family."

Following the outcome of the appeal, Detective Chief Inspector Vanessa Rolfe from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team said: "We welcome this judgement by the Court of Appeal and are pleased that the decision has been made to extend the original sentence”.

"The prison sentence is reflective of the seriousness of the offence committed and the justice deserved for Susan and her family."

Tarbox, 40, had known the victim, Miss Howells, 51, for a number of years before the murder took place.

Miss Howells, who was physically disabled and used a Zimmer frame, went to stay with Tarbox and his partner in January 2019.

Following an argument, Tarbox murdered Miss Howells at his home in Bradford on February 19, 2019.

He attempted to burn her body, before hiding it in a wheelie bin in his cellar.

Tarbox secured the property and then moved with his partner to a caravan site in Doncaster.

He later returned to the Bradford address with an accomplice, transported the body to Doncaster and buried it behind his caravan.

Miss Howells was declared missing in August 2019, but police found that Tarbox and his partner had been collecting her benefit money.

When officers attended the caravan site they found Susan’s remains in a shallow grave behind Tarbox’s caravan.

They also found the wheelie bin in Tarbox’s caravan, which contained an incinerator and human hair.

Tarbox was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years on December 10, 2020 at Leeds Crown Court.

Following a referral to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General, today the sentence was found to be unduly lenient and has been increased to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years.