A CHEATING husband who hired a hit man to kill his wife in a “brutal and abhorrent” attack will serve a life sentence in prison.

Bruce Killick, 63, who runs a horse and alpaca transport firm, sent hit man Karl Cruise, 55, of Brittany, to kill Susan Killick on February 18 but she survived.

Killick, of Emms Lane, Brooks Green, near Horsham, was motivated by “greed and lust” to shell out £10,000 for the deal arranged by Graham Martin, 39, also of France, Judge Michael Lawson QC told Hove Crown Court when he sentenced the trio.

He was having an affair with colleague Angela Teear, 53, of Barnham, a horse groomer, and stood to gain financially from his wife’s death, the court heard.

All three were found guilty of conspiracy to murder and were sentenced after a month-long trial. The jury took two days to convict the trio.

Killick and Martin will have to serve at least 20 years of the 30-year sentence. Cruise faces a minimum of 15 years, but was also handed an 11-year concurrent sentence after admitting grievous bodily harm. Martin was absent receiving|medical treatment in custody.

Judge Lawson said the scheme where Cruise attacked Mrs Killick with weapons including a screwdriver and hammer in her home, was “brutal and abhorrent.”

Cruise denied conspiracy to murder, claiming he had never intended to kill Mrs Killick but pretended to agree because he was scared of Martin.

He smashed her head repeatedly on the floor and dragged her across the kitchen before trying to stab her, but he suffered a medical episode. Mrs Killick fought him off and ran to a neighbour for help.

Judge Lawson said: “This offence was one of particular gravity. These three individuals were wholly ruthless in seeking to dispose of a human being. They showed no reluctance to engage in the ultimate crime of violence.”

Detective inspector David Springett said: “I am sure if it was not for her|sustained self-defence Mrs Killick would not have survived this assault.

“Thankfully she has largely recovered physically but her emotional trauma will be long felt.”

Mrs Killick watched much of the trial. After sentencing she said the family wanted to move on.