Sex strangler Graham Coutts may launch an appeal against his conviction for murdering Jane Longhurst.

His solicitors in Brighton, Harris Paley, confirmed today: "An appeal is being considered."

Coutts, a 35-year-old musician formerly of Waterloo Street, Hove, was jailed for life on Wednesday and faces at least 30 years behind bars.

He is now on suicide watch at Belmarsh Prison, London.

Coutts strangled the 31-year-old teacher and hid her body at the Big Yellow Self Storage site in Coombe Road, Brighton, before burning it at Wiggonholt Common, near Pulborough in April last year.

Big Yellow, Sussex Police officers and the Crown Prosecution Service were commended by trial judge Richard Brown at Lewes Crown Court yesterday.

Attending were: Barrister Richard Barton; Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) representatives; Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis; Detective Inspector Chris Standard; Sergeant Justina Beeken; Detective Constables Richard Bidmead, Kevin Weston, Lee Taylor and Jason Feltham; Detective Sergeant Dobbs O'Brien; Detective Inspector Phil Mays; PC Jenny Hayward; Carrie Wauchope, police media relations manager; and retired PC Dave Reed.

Judge Brown said: "The case was from the very outset of the inquiry potentially a very difficult and sensitive matter to deal with.

"I can only say that I have the greatest admiration for the quality of the police investigation, led as it was so professionally by Mr Dennis and Mr Standard.

"I have also no doubt that they were well advised throughout by the Brighton branch of the CPS.

"All officers involved in this investigation should be congratulated and commended for the individual parts they played in ensuring a just conclusion was brought to this tragic case.

"I would further add that it was obvious to me during the course of the trial that members of Jane Longhurst's family were receiving the appropriate care and attention from police officers clearly assigned to that support role.

"I have no doubt the family have been grateful for such assistance.

"It is also right for me to acknowledge publicly the assistance the staff of the Big Yellow Self Storage Company gave to the police.

"Their recognition of the possible importance of the information they had in their possession and their willingness to share that with the police should also be praised.

"They played a very important role in bringing this man before the court.

"On a purely personal note, I was very impressed with their decision to take unit C50 permanently out of service, no doubt as a mark of respect for Jane.

"Finally, I would like to commend Mr Daniel Fowler, who was the highly responsible member of the public who bothered to delay his journey to investigate the fire that was taking place on Wiggonholt Common on April 19.

"Not only was his discovery of great importance to the investigation but I am sure Jane's family will be forever grateful to him in that he at least enabled her body to be returned to them."