A MAN who stabbed his former lover to death hours after she begged police to arrest him was sentenced yesterday to life in prison.

Andrew Millard, 42, subjected Julie Harris, 41, to months of threatening phone calls after she ended their tempestuous affair. On October 5 he agreed to sign a non-harassment order after Mrs Harris complained to police about his obsessional behaviour.

Two weeks later she phoned 999 demanding that Millard be arrested. Bristol Crown Court was told that police said they had “other commitments” but would arrest him later.

Five hours after that, Millard broke into her home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and stabbed her seven times in the chest with a steak knife.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating Gloucestershire Police’s handling of the case. It is already investigating Derbyshire and Staffordshire Constabularies over a similar case, the murder of a riding instructor by her former lover after months of harassment.

Millard, who lived on a caravan park in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, admitted manslaughter but was found guilty of murder.

Earlier, the court was told that the couple, who were both divorced, had met on a blind date in June 2003 and Millard moved into the two-bedroom home which Mrs Harris shared with her daughter, Emily. By November she had asked him to leave after he became increasingly jealous and controlling. By August 2004 she had ended the relationship.

On August 21 Millard rang her 47 times threatening to kill her and calling her a “conniving, lying bitch”. Sarah Munro, prosecuting, said that Mrs Harris changed her mobile phone number but Millard continued to stalk and harass her until her death, turning up at her work, begging her to let him see her and threatening violence. By October 15 he had agreed to curb his behaviour as the police became increasingly involved in their relationship.

Four days later he rang Mrs Harris after persuading one of her friends to give him her new number. Mrs Harris contacted the police and was told that the force were too busy that night but did intend to arrest him.

After a night of drinking Millard went back to his caravan and then went to her home with a knife and stabbed her. The court was told that the force of the stabbings was so great that the knife snapped.

Millard was heard on five occasions shouting that he was “going to kill her”. Her 19-year-old daughter and boyfriend, who were both in the house, ran out and phoned police.

Millard was arrested shortly afterwards and told police he had killed Mrs Harris.

He later claimed that she had “taunted” him that she had other lovers who were better in bed than he was.

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