David Barraclough jailed for wife’s murder

David Barraclough was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 22 years and one month, for murdering his wife, Carolann, and hiding her body in a freezer at their home in Horbury, West Yorkshire. Barraclough, 46, pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court on the day his trial was due to begin. The court heard that he killed Carolann, 37, with a hammer on February 20, then concealed her body in a chest freezer in the utility room. She was found after police responded to a concern for safety report in March. For almost two weeks, Barraclough told relatives and friends that his wife was in hospital recovering from an illness. He used her phone to send messages to her daughter suggesting she would return home. The court heard that the children were in the house when the killing took place, but did not witness it. During the period he concealed the death, Barraclough contacted escorts and used dating apps. He also withdrew money from the couple’s joint account. Judge Andrew Stubbs said there was 16 pence left in the accounts when Barraclough went to a police station on March 5 and admitted killing his wife.