A holidaymaker who killed a mother-of-12 at a popular North Wales camp site has been jailed for life after being found guilty of murder.

Kathleen McDonald was found by police in bed alongside her attacker Howard Jenkinson, who had gone back to sleep, Chester Crown Court was told.

A jury spent about six hours to decide the fate of the HGV driver, who had denied intentionally killing his 44-year-old lover.

Blood splatterings were found in their chalet at Pontins in Prestatyn last May, although the defendant later told police he had only punched the woman once.

Jenkinson also stated that he had tried to revive the woman with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

The 49-year-old from Webster Road, Walsall, denied a murder charge, stating he could not remember the incident and claimed he would not have intentionally caused her serious harm.

'Brutal circumstances'

But Judge Mr Justice Thomas told him: "She died in what can only be described as extraordinarily brutal circumstances as a result of the injuries you inflicted on her.

"There is nothing that can undo the brutal scene that must have confronted her family the following morning and the days ahead."

Prosecutor Mr Christopher Pitchford said staff had been alerted to the chalet and used a master key to gain entry.

One worker saw a man waking from sleep on a bed settee and next to him was the hair of a person, lying alongside.

He went into the bathroom to investigate a leak and he noticed a red smear on a washbasin, which appeared to be blood.

Staff realised something was wrong and telephoned the police.

Two officers arrived and one pulled back a cover from over Mrs McDonald and could see that she was dead.

'What have I done?'

During interview after his arrest, Jenkinson said there had been an argument between the pair and that he had left her on the floor.

He later got out of bed to turn off a tap and looked at Kathleen who was cold and stiff. He thought: "What have I done?"

He said he had punched her once in the face, to "make her behave."

Jenkinson told the court that he could not remember the incident due to a heavy drinking session.