Sculptor Thomas Crompton guilty of manslaughter of wife

Sculptor Tom Crompton hit his wife with a hammer he used in his work

A metalwork sculptor, who beat his wife so badly with a hammer at their Norfolk home that she died two days later, has been found guilty of manslaughter.

Thomas Crompton, 39, of Manor Farm Cottages, in Arminghall near Norwich, admitted killing Angela Crompton in June but denied murder.

He is due to be sentenced on 25 January, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Mrs Crompton was hit repeatedly with a hammer her husband used to make metal art work in a foundry at their home.

She died at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge two days after being attacked.

Norwich Crown Court heard witness statements describing Mrs Crompton's troubled life and stormy relationships with several male partners.

At the end of a nine-day trial, the jury at Norwich Crown Court found him guilty of his wife's manslaughter due to loss of control.

On the afternoon of 11 June 2012, Crompton had been working with a colleague in his foundry where the furnace had reached the very high temperature of 600C, the court heard.

When taking a break he returned to the house and argued violently with his wife, with witnesses hearing crockery being smashed.

Crompton tried to strangle her and then attacked her with the hammer.

He showed remorse for what he had done in court and admitted that as their relationship grew he had become obsessed with her.

She had left him suddenly and this had hurt him considerably because they had been talking about marriage.

Angela Crompton died after she was struck with a hammer several times

When they got together again Crompton said: "I was cautious about how it would develop."

The couple decided to marry, but Mrs Crompton was not happy in her husband's house and wanted to redecorate.

This caused the argument that led to her death, the court heard.

A family statement said: "When Angela married Tom Crompton in March this year we all hoped she had found the stability and happiness she wanted.

"A little over three months later he had killed her.

"We do accept that the actions of Tom Crompton on 11 June 2012 were out of character.

"However, those actions have deprived three young children of their mother and put our entire family through a long and very painful ordeal.

"It is true that Angela was a troubled person and we hope that she has found the peace she was always searching for in life."

Det Ch Insp Neil Firm, of Norfolk Police, said: "This was a brutal attack on someone Crompton claimed to love.

"Violence is never a good resolution to an argument and this is a tragic end to this couple's relationship, leaving their children and families devastated."