Man from Horbury who murdered wife, and stored body in freezer - handed a life sentence

A man from Horbury - who's wife's body was found in a freezer at their home in West Yorkshire - has been handed a life sentence for her murder.

37-year-old Carolann Barraclough was found dead in March, when officers went to the address following a concern for safety.

David Barraclough admitted her murder at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday just as his trial was due to get underway .

Leeds Crown Court head Barraclough killed his wife with a claw hammer while her body was stored in a chest freezer.

The 46-year-old kept up an elaborate facade for almost two weeks to conceal the fact that his wife Carolann Barraclough, 37, was dead at their home in Horbury, Wakefield.

During that time, Barraclough also downloaded a dating app, exchanged explicit messages on the internet and even used Mrs Barraclough’s phone to convince her daughter that she was exchanging messages with her mother in hospital.

On Friday, Barraclough was jailed for life by Judge Andrew Stubbs KC, who ordered him to serve a minimum term of 22 years and one month.

Judge Stubbs said it was “a brutal attack with a hammer whilst she lay in bed in the house you shared with her three children who were all present in the house at the time”.

The judge outlined how Barraclough went into a police station on March 5th, saying he had killed his wife on February 20th and claiming to have been a victim of domestic abuse.

But the judge told him this account was “riddled with lies” and explained how it was the defendant who had subjected his wife to years of domestic violence and abuse.

Barraclough refused to come into court for his sentencing from the cells.

The judge said he wanted to use new legislation that meant defendants could be brought to court using reasonable force, or be jailed for two years for not attending.

But he was told that these new powers are not yet in force.

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