PETER Morgan has been sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of the murder of Georgina Symonds, his former escort and lover.

The multi-millionaire, 54, of Llanellen Court Farm, Llanellen, killed the 25-year-old mother-of-one on January 12 at Pencoed Castle Bungalow by strangling her with a ligature of twine.

The jury, reduced to 11 members after one of the jurors was taken ill and discharged on Monday, supplied a unanimous verdict after four days of deliberations, totalling more than 16 hours.

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In his sentencing, the judge, Justice Neil Garnham gave Morgan a minimum term of 25 years.

“You have been convicted of the murder by strangulation of Georgina Symonds – a woman you said you loved,” he said.

“The murder, in my judgement, was carefully planned and calmly executed.”

Mr Justice Garnham recounted the key facts and matters in the case that he felt led the jury to the verdict of murder.

“You killed her in cold anger at your discovery of what she had done and out of fear of what she planned to do to you and your family,” he said.

During the trial, the property developer, originally from Usk, said he strangled Miss Symonds in an attempt to frighten her after he became aware of her plans to blackmail him.

Mr Justice Garnham referred to the manner by which Morgan had met Miss Symonds in 2012, when he began using her services as an escort.

In relation to the murder, he said that he became aware of Miss Symonds’ plans to ‘do him over’ through a listening device that he planted in the bungalow she was living in.

“You learned that in essence Georgina Symonds had absolutely no respect or no time for you.

“You may have loved her but she didn’t even like you,” said Mr Justice Garnham.

After hearing the phone call, the judge added that Morgan made a list on his mobile phone of the items that he would need and create a pretence to go to the bungalow on the morning of January 12.

Morgan ‘encircled’ Miss Symonds’ neck with the twine and applied pressure to the ligature on three occasion, before throwing a towel or throw over her body.

“You couldn’t even bring yourself to look at her after you had killed her,” said the judge, before moving onto his ‘normal’ actions following Miss Symonds’ death.

“It is perfectly plain to it was your intention to then try and avoid responsibility for the killing,” he said.

Although Mr Justice Garnham acknowledged Morgan’s diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome, he felt it was only a ‘mild form’ and it did not impair his decision making in relation to the murder.

“You were able to form a rational judgement and you were capable of exercising self-control,” he said.

Before the judge provided his sentence, William Hughes QC – the leader of the prosecution’s case – read out a victim impact statement from Miss Symonds’ mother, Deborah.

“The loss of my daughter is the worst thing any mother can go through,” said Mr Hughes, adding that her family were devastated.

“This was done by a man we all trusted.”

Patrick Harrington QC, the leader of the defence counsel, had asked the judge to hand down a minimum sentence of 15 years, due to mitigating factors.

“He was suffering from a mental disorder,” said Mr Harrington, who added that Morgan had previously been of a good character which was accepted by the judge.

“The offence was provoked by blackmail and stress.”