Imran Sharif
Imran Sharif (L) previously denied murdering his wife of 17 years, Raheela Thames Valley Police

A man who murdered his wife shortly after dropping his children off at school and afterwards left for work has been jailed for life.

Imran Sharif, 44, of Slough, admitted to stabbing his wife of 17 years, Raheela Imran, at their family home in October 2014.

Sharif previously denied murdering his wife, but later changed his plea on the first day of his trial at Reading Crown Court. During previous court appearances, the court heard how Sharif murdered his wife after he believed she was having an affair with his younger cousin in Pakistan.

Described as an "extremely violent and dangerous man", Sharif has now been sentenced to a minimum of 14 years and nine months in jail for the attack.

Prosecutor Allan Mainds QC told the court: "Tragically the defendant totally misread an affectionate relationship between his wife and his much younger cousin. Clearly there was and never had been an opportunity of a liaison sexual or otherwise with the cousin."

The court heard how Sharif and his wife had got into an argument after he dropped their four children off at school.

He then killed Raheela by stabbing her in the neck using a knife he retrieved from the kitchen. He pulled down his wife's trousers and left the front door ajar as he left for work to make it appear as though she was murdered by an intruder.

Sharif then attempted to hide the bloodstained clothes he was wearing under the seat of his car before they were recovered by police. The knife used in the attack has never been recovered.

Det chief insp Mike Lynch, of Thames Valley Police, said: "I am glad that Sharif has accepted responsibility for what he did and admitted that he took his wife's life.

"This has been an incredibly difficult time for Raheela's family and friends as they try to come to terms with their loss and although it may offer them little comfort, I hope that the sentence Sharif has been given today will be of some help as they begin to rebuild their family's lives."