Murdered Lauren Masters' mother has told how she will devote her life to her two little boys as her killer Paul Withers was jailed for life.

Withers, 22, of David Close, Bexhill was today told he will have to serve a minimum of 24 years after brutally stabbing Lauren 23 times in the kitchen of her flat, while their two young sons were home.

In a heartbreaking statement read to the court Lauren's mother Michelle Masters said: "She was taken from me and my grandchildren I dont know how I will carry on without my beautiful daughter to talk to and laugh with. 
But I know I must for my grandchildren.

"My thoughts now have to be focused on my grandchildren. Two little boys  who will be told how loved their mother was. 

"Two little boys who will be hugged and comforted every day. 

"I will make sure my grandchildren grow up into two people Lauren would have been so proud of."

Mrs Masters said the children had to have pyschological assessments and the four-year-old who saw his mother bleeding to death on the floor of their home in Fernleigh Court Bexhill had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

She added: "She was my best friend, and a loving and devoted mother to my grandchildren.

"Lauren was a beautiful person who always had a smile on her face. 

"She was so kind and caring.

"I wanted to see her get married and she will not get to see her boys grow up."

Sentencing Withers at Hove Crown Court this morning Judge Christine Laing QC said condemned him for committing the ferocious murder with his children in the flat.

She said that on August 28 Withers was in a "murderous state of mind."

She added: "A particularly aggravating feature was the fact that you committed murder with your two children present.

“They must at the very least have been able to hear what you were doing to their mother.

“Secondly in the immediate aftermath your first and only thought was to try and save yourself and avoid responsibility for what you had done.

“In the final moments of her life Lauren was trying to summon help not just for herself but for her sons.

“It is clear one of your children at least was in the kitchen after you had fled.

“If you had a shred of decency you would have removed those boys from the flat and waited outside for the police to arrive.”