Stephen Searle, 64, was found guilty on Tuesday of murdering his wife, Anne, in Stowmarket on December 30 last year.

Here is a transcript of the 999 call which took place between the former Ukip councillor and a Suffolk Police call handler at 10.20 that night.

Call handler: “Hello, can you hear me?

Searle: “Yeah, I can hear you, can you hear me?”

CH: “Yep.”

S: “I’ve er… just killed my wife”

CH:”You’ve just killed your wife.”

S: “Yeah.”

CH: “Okay.”

Screengrab from 999 call with Stephen Searle
Screengrab from 999 call with Stephen Searle (Suffolk Police/PA)

S: “Bit different for you tonight I expect…Happy New Year.”

CH: “…and how have you killed her?”

S: “Erm… suffocation really, I guess. Bit of a bizarre situation but you know… nevermind.

CH: “Okay, is it just the two of you in the house?”

Text of call to police
Screengrab of call to (Suffolk Police/PA)

S: “Er… well just the one of us now.”

CH: “Right, okay.”

S: “Well two… if you like.”

CH: “Okay, is there any other sort of issues that the officers need to be aware of when they come into the house? Is there anything dangerous?”

S: “Erm, not really. I’m not violent, I’m not nothing.”

CH: “Stephen, can I just get you to go and answer the door? I believe we should have some officers there. Are you able to just go and speak to them?”

S: “Okay, they’re here now, are they?”

CH: “They should be there.”

S: “Alright, I’m on me way.”

CH: “Okay.”

S: “I’m on me way as we speak…ah, hello buddies! How are you, alright?”