Remorseless killer Thomas Nutt who murdered his new bride on their wedding night, stuffed her body into a suitcase and dumped it in bushes was today jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years behind bars.

Nutt sat back in the dock at Bradford Crown Court with arms folded and his glasses resting on the top of his head during this morning’s sentencing hearing.

Last week, the jury found him guilty of murdering Dawn Walker after a trial lasting more than two weeks. He had admitted Miss Walker’s manslaughter but denied murder.

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The verdict was greeted with cheers and exclamations of relief from the public gallery.

The jury had deliberated for little over three hours before finding that the scrap metal dealer, 46, of Shirley Grove, Lightcliffe, intended to kill Miss Walker.

Members of Miss Walker’s family were in court today to hear Judge Jonathan Rose pass sentence.

He said that Nutt had murdered 52-year-old Miss Walker on their wedding night. She was killed by persistent and violent acts at what should have been a time of very great happiness.

Victim personal statements had laid bare the terrible pain suffered by Dawn’s family. Nutt demanded subservience of her and she had answered his every demand, including getting out of bed to make food for him at 2am.

The family’s loss and pain was compounded by the knowledge of the way he had treated her, and the horror of how he abused her body, leaving it in a cupboard while her daughter and her little boy were in the house. He had then packed her in the suitcase and dumped her like litter.

Nutt had put up Halloween decorations, including police tape, while Miss Walker’s body lay nearby.

Judge Rose said Dawn was just over five feet tall, while Nutt was much taller, heavier and more powerful, using his strength to ‘malign effect’ on her.

He had previously been locked up for two robberies and jailed for breaching a non-molestation order.

Dawn Walker was last seen on October 27 last year, her wedding night. No one saw her alive after that and she had no contact with anyone by phone or text after returning from the celebration at the pub.

A neighbour heard thuds and bumps coming from the house that night.

“I am sure that you attacked Dawn Walker at this time,” Judge Rose said.

Nutt had punched her repeatedly and strangled her using significant force.

The bumping sounds were likely to be Nutt taking her downstairs to put in the cupboard.

After midnight he was seen hiding from neighbours outside and he had then gone to a cash point to withdraw money.

On October 28, Nutt was seen hanging out the clothing he was wearing when he killed Dawn. He left for Skegness that day with the washing still on the line and the curtains closed.

Judge Rose said Nutt left Miss Walker’s body in the cupboard while he took a two-day trip to Skegness.

He then texted Dawn’s daughter Kiera, purporting to be her mother, and went out to ostensibly look for Dawn.

‘It was persistent, misleading and cruel,’ Judge Rose said.

Under pressure from others, he rang the police and then put Miss Walker’s body in a suitcase, dragged her down the garden and, in Nutt’s own words, ‘chucked’ it over the fence and hid it in some bushes.

Nutt had persistently lied to the police saying he had only used force to restrain a woman who was attacking him.

Judge Rose said the Parole Board would not release him until it was satisfied that he wasn’t a danger to the public.

The desecration and concealment of Miss Walker’s body made the offending more serious. She was murdered in her own home and she had mental health issues that made her vulnerable.

Miss Walker was diminutive and unable to defend herself against Nutt’s prolonged and significant outburst of violence. It was a mystery as to why he had murdered the woman he had just married.

He had inflicted psychological damage on members of Miss Walker’s family by carrying out the deception of pretending she was still alive.

Nutt had assaulted a previous partner in a similar way by punching her to the head and restricting her airway.

Judge Rose said he wasn’t satisfied that he intended to kill Miss Walker but to cause her really serious injury.

Nutt himself had health problems, proclaiming from the dock after the verdict that he would be dead anyway in two years.

He was a controlling and manipulating bully who dominated Miss Walker with violent and controlling behaviour, culminating in the violent outburst in which she lost her life.

He had shown no remorse.

Judge Rose was thanked by those in the public gallery after he passed sentence.

He paid tribute to the dignity of Miss Walker’s family during the court proceedings and commended the police officers involved in the investigation.

After Nutt was sentenced, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Amanda Wimbles, of West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said:  “Dawn Walker’s family have been left absolutely devastated by her death in such violent circumstances. This has been a dreadful crime, especially given the couple had only recently married. 

“The prosecution and police rejected Nutt’s admission of manslaughter and always believed murder was the offence he should rightly stand trial for. 

“Our thoughts continue to be with Dawn’s family, who have shown great dignity and strength through what has understandably been a devastating time for them. No verdict or sentence will bring Dawn back to her family. I hope however that in getting justice they can begin to move forward with their lives.

“We encourage any victims of domestic abuse or coercive and controlling behaviour to come forward and report it to one of our specialist Safeguarding officers, who will listen and provide the necessary support.”