Man jailed for 18 years for missing wife's murder » Communities » 24dash.com

A wealthy landowner was jailed for life today for the murder of his estranged wife, whose body has never been found.

Retired teacher Kate Prout, 55, vanished from the £1.2 million farm she shared with her husband Adrian Prout during acrimonious divorce proceedings.

Prout, 47, who owns a successful pipe-laying business and runs a commercial pheasant shoot, was found guilty of her murder on Friday.

Mr Justice Nigel Davis, at Bristol Crown Court, sentenced Prout, from Redmarley, Gloucestershire, to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years.

Mr Justice Davis told Prout: "One of the pieces of evidence that sticks in my mind is Kate Prout used to remember her parents by placing flowers on her grave.

"I expect her family would like to place flowers on her grave but they can't, and they can't because of you."

The judge said: "It was said on your behalf that there was some sort of stress or a degree of provocation. I couldn't accept even that.

"The truth is you allowed your temper to erupt and it was your anger that killed her.

"How you killed her is only known to you. You most probably did it by strangling her."

A wealthy landowner was jailed for life today for the murder of his estranged wife, whose body has never been found.

Retired teacher Kate Prout, 55, vanished from the £1.2 million farm she shared with her husband Adrian Prout during acrimonious divorce proceedings.

Prout, 47, who owns a successful pipe-laying business and runs a commercial pheasant shoot, was found guilty of her murder on Friday.

Mr Justice Nigel Davis, at Bristol Crown Court, sentenced Prout, from Redmarley, Gloucestershire, to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years.

mf
Page 2: 14:30

Mr Justice Davis told Prout: "One of the pieces of evidence that sticks in my mind is Kate Prout used to remember her parents by placing flowers on her grave.

"I expect her family would like to place flowers on her grave but they can't, and they can't because of you."

The judge said: "It was said on your behalf that there was some sort of stress or a degree of provocation. I couldn't accept even that.

"The truth is you allowed your temper to erupt and it was your anger that killed her.

"How you killed her is only known to you. You most probably did it by strangling her."

mf
Page 3: 14:47

Defending counsel Elizabeth Marsh said a "prolonged period of stress" could be considered as a mitigating factor.

Miss Marsh then invited the court to consider events leading up to Mrs Prout's disappearance, in particular October 27 2007, when she drunkenly abused Prout in front of friends at the local pub.

She went on: "That may have provoked instant retaliation."

Referring to the couple's divorce proceedings, Miss Marsh added: "It's quite clear on both sides there had been lengthy and difficult periods of negotiation."

Mfl
Page 4: 14:51

Following the conviction, Mrs Prout's emotional family urged Prout to reveal where her body was hidden and end their anguish.

Her brother, Richard Wakefield, 59, from Lypiatt, Gloucestershire, said: "Nothing will bring Kate back to us, but we are pleased that justice has been done.

"It is a big relief that the trial has ended with this verdict and this will go some way towards allowing us to move forward.

"We would, however, appeal to Adrian to tell us what happened to Kate and where she is because we would like to lay her to rest and say our goodbyes."

Prout, who has become a father with his fiancee, Debbie Garlick, since Mrs Prout's disappearance, is thought to have strangled her and then used his expertise as a professional pipe layer to bury her body.

The jury heard Mrs Prout confronted her husband with an increased divorce demand the day before she went missing - November 5, 2007.

The couple were living at Redhill Farm in Redmarley, a 276-acre property purchased in 2004 for £820,000 and later valued at £1.2 million.

Prout offered his wife a settlement of £600,000, but after discussion with accountants she decided to demand £800,000.

The court heard Prout moved Laura, his daughter from a previous relationship, into the couple's home in 2006, which created "friction" in the household.

Mrs Prout left diary accounts of arguments during which Prout threatened to kill her.

She recalled an incident in February 2007 when, according to her, Prout "threatened to kill" her by holding her over the empty swimming pool at their home.

After a brief attempt at reconciliation, the Prouts decided to proceed with divorce.

Mrs Prout rented a holiday cottage in September 2007 with her sister-in-law near Salisbury, Wiltshire.

The estranged wife made arrangements for house-sitter Diane Bellamy to care for the home while she was away.

Following Ms Bellamy's first stay at the farm, she and Prout formed a friendship.

The court heard Ms Bellamy received a text message from Prout on the morning of November 5 which read: "I love you Di."

The last time anyone heard from Mrs Prout was 3.29pm on November 5, when she called her bank, First Direct.

Since then no agencies have had any contact with her, including banks and passport agencies.

Mr Justice Davis said: "I have no way of knowing what your inner feelings must be or what they are now. You've not shown much emotion throughout the trial."

He went on: "It's absolutely right that the prosecution's case has been that a sudden row must have blown up that night.

"It rankled with you that Kate would not accept the offer you made of £600,000 to settle the divorce.

"In your own mind that was fair. More importantly to you, if she accepted it you could hang on to the farm. But she would not accept it."

Mr Justice Davis said Mrs Prout's decision to attempt a reconciliation with her husband in late March 2007 proved to be "disastrous".

The judge added that he suspected no weapon was used "as there was no blood and her body has never been found".

He said: "You concealed the body thereafter. This was done in a very careful way. In view of the comments you made, I couldn't rule out you may have had the assistance of others."

Outside court, Acting Detective Superintendent Neil Kelly, of Gloucestershire Police, said the force intended to quiz Prout again over the whereabouts of his murdered wife's body.

He said: "This sentence reflects the gravity and seriousness of the offence.

"We will continue to appeal to Prout to give Kate's family the chance to say a proper goodbye by revealing where her body is.

"We hope this sentence will go some way in allowing the family to start to move on from what has been an incredibly distressing time."

Mrs Prout's family members, who sat in court throughout, declined to comment.

Prout's fiancee, Debbie Garlick, who has recently given birth to their child, did not attend court.