Killer’s message: ‘If I can’t have you no-one can’
her concerned family were out looking for her.
On the afternoon of August 27 her mother and sister went to the property in Siddal and found Ms King’s body laid on the bed with her arms across her chest.
Thackray, who had previously served four years in prison for an offence of GBH with intent, was arrested by police after he turned up at a bingo hall in Leeds saying he had done something serious.
He pleaded guilty to the murder charge last month and yesterday the Recorder of Bradford Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC sentenced him to life in prison with a minimum term of 17 years before he could be considered for release by the Parole Board.
Prosecutor Jason Pitter QC read from moving victim impact statements provided by Ms King’s mother and two of her sisters.
They described how Ms King would “light up a room” with her personality and how her death had been a nightmare for them.
Her mother Ruth Hudson said: “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would have to arrange a funeral for one of my girls.”
She said Thackray’s “selfish actions” had devastated her life and the lives of her two granddaughters and the void would never be filled.
Thackray’s barrister Paul Greaney QC conceded that the victim impact statements were heartbreaking and he referred to a letter of confession provided by his client in which he maintained that he loved Ms King “with all my heart”.
Thackray claimed he never meant to kill her, but he accepted responsibility for her death and said he would never be able to forgive himself.
“I am sorry from the bottom of my heart to Jessica and all her family.” said Thackray.
Judge Durham Hall impact on Ms King’s family was “incalculable” and no-one could possibly understand their turmoil and torment.
He told Thackray that he had committed an act of “unbelievable and incomprehensible wickedness’.’
“It was unprovoked. It was born out of, in the final analysis, malice, anger and jealousy.”
The judge said Ms King had been compassionate and sympathetic as she tried to make the relationship work.
“She must have known the risk, but wanted desperately for life to be better,” added the judge.
Senior Investigating Officer Det Chief Insp Jaz Khan said: “While in pleading guilty Thackray has accepted his actions and taken responsibility for taking Jessica’s life this does not in any way change the fact that he brutally, and intentionally killed Jessica and has left two young children without their mother and her whole family devastated by their sudden loss.
“While Thackray’s conviction and sentencing cannot bring Jessica back, I hope that it goes someway to bring closure to what has understandably been a distressing time for Jessica’s family, and that they can begin to move forward with their lives.”