The relatives of Tania Williams made their comments in a statement read out in court as Raymond Williams, a former officer with Norfolk Police, received his sentence.

The 49-year-old mother-of-four died after having her throat slashed at least seven times by Williams, 61, as she made her way home from a night out in Norwich.

Her killer, who was consumed by jealousy, had followed her around the city on the night of Saturday, January 17, and was waiting for her as she got off the bus near her home Thorpe St Andrew.

Tania Williams (left) and Raymond Williams (Image: Social media)

Her neighbours found her lying in a pool of blood in Catherine Gardens and she died at the scene.

At Norwich Crown Court on Friday, Judge Anthony Bate imposed a mandatory life sentence, ruling Williams must serve a minimum of 27 years in prison.

Before the sentence was delivered, Wayne Bullock, Ms Williams' brother, provided a statement on behalf of everyone who knew and loved his "beloved" sister.

It said: “We never imagined that one day we would receive a call telling us that Tania had been murdered.

“Even now, we struggle to accept that she is no longer here with us and that her life was taken in such a devastating way.”

The statement added: “The people we were before that phone call feel different from who we are now.

"Something in our family has changed forever, and there will always be an emptiness where Tania should be.”

It went on: "Life as we know it is not the same for us, our family and Tania's children.

"It's something we never could've known would've happened to our family."

Mr Bullock said they "struggle" to accept "she's no longer here with us and that her life was taken in such a devastating way".

He said Tania was a "fun-loving, outgoing person" who spread laughter and warmth to those around her.

The statement said it "breaks our heart" to think she was no longer here for her children or to make new memories with.

But Mr Bullock insisted Tania would "will always be our sister" and they will "always miss her" and would do "everything we can to keep her memory alive for her children".

Police at Catherine Gardens, Thorpe St Andrew (Image: Newsquest)

Williams was found guilty of murder after a Norwich Crown Court trial earlier this year.

It heard Williams, who once worked as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), had struggled to come to terms with his wife’s new life.

He stalked her as  she visited a number of bars in the city before telling a man she was with they were still married and pointing to his wedding........

© Norwich Evening News