A woman who murdered her friend at his Peterborough home and then left his body for four days before calling police to confess has been jailed. 

Anne-Marie Burrowes, 52, killed Paul Knowles, 56, on October 26 last year by assaulting him to his face and then shoving a sock down his throat. 

She called police on October 30 to say she had killed a man but refused to say who or where. 

Finally, on November 19, she called police again to confess that she couldn’t live with the guilt.  

In this call she named Mr Knowles and told officers what she had done to him and where they would find his body. 

Burrowes claimed self-defence at Cambridge Crown Court on July 18 but she was found guilty of murder. 

She was sentenced today (23 July) to life in prison with a minimum term of 17 years.

Detective Inspector Richard Stott, from the Beds, Cambs and Herts Major Crime Unit, said: “This is a horrific and tragic case where a man has lost his life after being violently assaulted and having a sock forced into his throat. 

“Burrowes’ actions showed there was no other intention than to kill him. 

“Our thoughts remain with Paul’s son, family and friends at this difficult time, and we hope this conviction provides some sense of justice for them. 

“I would like to add my thanks to the police major crime investigation team, Crown Prosecution Service and prosecution counsel for their hard work and a great collaborative effort.” 

Mr Knowles’ son, Nathan Naylor, previously paid an emotional tribute to his “hero” father, who was known as Knobby. 

He said: “My dad was my hero. He spent 22 years and one day in the Royal Navy. 

“He was a loving father, son and brother. Such a pure soul and loved by many. Fair winds and calm seas.”