A Burnham man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after he admitted killing his girlfriend  in St Lawrence.

 Page, 38, of Dunkirk Road, Burnham, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court today for sentencing.

At a previous court appearance he admitted one count of manslaughter, but denied murder.

Judge Patricia Lynch sentenced Page to eight years for the killing of Carolyn Hill, 51, at her home in St Lawrence Holiday Park on April 17.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, told the court how neighbours had heard loud thuds in the early hours of Sunday morning after Page returned to the caravan drunk.

He said: "At around 1am on Sunday, April 16, a near neighbour to Miss Hill heard banging and screaming and the sound of breaking glass.

"When he went to see what was going on he was met by the defendant who was reported shouting: 'You want some as well?'

"At around 8.30am that morning, a neighbour saw Miss Hill and said she looked like she had been given a 'bl***y good hiding'. She was unsteady on her feet."

The court heard how Miss Hill wasn't seen alive after 9.30am on the Sunday.

The defendant was seen drinking in the bar at lunchtime, before returning to the caravan drunk.

The next morning, around 10am, the defendant came out of the caravan swigging from a wine bottle.

He told a witness: "She is dead, we had a fight, I punched her in the mouth."

Paramedics arrived at the scene and found Miss Hill dead.

A statement, read to the court from Carolyn Hill's mother, described Page as an "evil, nasty, bully."

Craig Rush, mitigating, said Page felt remorse for his actions and wanted to apologise for the consequences they had caused.

Mr Rush also pointed to the early guilty plea entered by the defendant.

He added: "He accepts that there had been episodes in which, in drink, arguments had gone beyond the verbal and he had on occasion struck her. It is something he regrets and is deeply ashamed of."

Sentencing Page, Judge Lynch said: "What we are dealing with here is the perception that it is alright to hit women, and you are a man who clearly thinks it is alright to hit women.

"This is what can happen when men hit women. This is why it is always a very serious matter.

"Not only did Miss Hill not deserve your punches, her family do not deserve what you have done to them and their statements I hope you carry with you forever.

"You took the life of a much loved, beautiful mother who can never be replaced."

Judge Lynch sentenced Page to eight years in prison for manslaughter.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Jennings, of the Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate, said after the hearing: “Skye Page subjected Carolyn Hill to an assault while fuelled with alcohol. 

“It is galling that he was comfortable using violence against someone who he’d been in a long-term relationship with. 

“Carolyn’s death was totally needless and has caused great sadness to her friends and family. 

“At least by admitting his crime, Page has prevented Carolyn’s family from having to go through the trauma of a trial. 

“I hope this sentence provides them with some solace.”