A husband who flew into a jealous rage and killed his wife after he suspected her of having an affair has been jailed.

Agim Isaku, 40, of Convent Way, Southall , was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison on Tuesday (March 1) at the Old Bailey.

Isaku denied murder, and following a 24-day trial was convicted of manslaughter, at the Old Bailey on Wednesday (February 24).

The Albanian-born was married to Elife Beqa, 33, for 13 years, and claimed his wife came at him with a knife and died in the struggle.

However, Eli was said to have told a friend she was going to make her husband a birthday cake and was keen to make him happy and reconcile their marriage.

The court heard that Isaku, in an uncontrollable rage, “beat, strangled and bit” his wife to death at their family home, while their two young sons were sleeping in the next room.

He called an ambulance and Eli, as she was known to her friends, was rushed to hospital but never regained consciousness, and died later that day on August 13 2015 - the eve of his 40th birthday.

The marriage had soured partly as a result of Ms Beqa becoming attracted to another man and she told friends nightly rows would erupt after the children had gone to bed.

Isaku had become controlling of his wife monitoring her phone, Facebook and insisted she leave her job.

'No one should live in fear of domestic violence'

Prosecutor Tony Badenoch QC said: “Elife died, ladies and gentleman, following a violent episode. During the violent episode she was beaten, bitten and she was strangled to death.

“When that happened she was at home, her two young sons were asleep in the neighbouring bedroom when this happened and fortunately weren’t woken until officers arrived and were later tasked with telling them that there mother had died.”

A post-mortem gave cause of death as compression of the neck, the victim had also suffered other injuries to her back and arm.

Isaku was arrested at the scene for attempted murder and, following his wife’s death, charged with murder on August 14, 2015.

Detective Inspector Louise Knipe of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “This was a terrible crime that has taken the life of a young woman and robbed two young children of their mother.

"Eli told a friend she was she was planning on making her husband a cake for his birthday and she seems to have been working hard to make the marriage work.

“Despite Eli’s efforts to make her husband happy, Isaku’s unfounded jealously drove him to carry out a savage assault. He then tried to shift the blame for the violence on Eli, but the jury has seen through his lies and convicted him of manslaughter.

"No one should live in fear and I would appeal to anyone who is living with domestic abuse, or knows someone who is, to contact police.

"We have specialist officers who are there to help and support victims and your call to police may save a life."