Man who killed teenage lover jailed

Unemployed David Hodgson, of Olav Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire, was angry over 19-year-old Jenny Nicholl's blossoming relationship with his elder brother.

Jenny, a Co-op shop worker, disappeared from her home in the North Yorkshire town on June 30, 2005. She has never been seen alive since and her body has never been found.

Sentencing Hodgson at Teesside Crown Court, Mr Justice Openshaw told the 48-year-old he must serve a minimum of 18 years in prison.

Hodgson, dressed all in black, showed no emotion as his sentence was read out.

The judge told the court that it was "obvious" Hodgson and Jenny had met up by prior arrangement on the date she disappeared, and the evidence that he killed her that night was "entirely overwhelming".

The judge said he had "no doubt" that Hodgson had buried Jenny in the woods or thrown her body down one of the many potholes or mine shafts in Swaledale.

The jury delivered a guilty verdict on Tuesday after deliberating for 10 hours.

During the five-week trial, the prosecution alleged that Hodgson's motivation for killing the teenager was "possessive jealousy" and that he told "many lies" to cover his tracks.

In the weeks before her disappearance, Jenny became friends with Robert Hodgson - although he was unaware of his brother's long-standing relationship with the teenager.