A lottery winner accused of strangling his wife to avoid giving her half the cash was jailed for four years.

Michael O'Leary, 54, was found not guilty of murder after a jury at Liverpool Crown Court ruled that he did not intend to kill wife Michelle.

O'Leary, who won £440,000 on the National Lottery, was convicted of the manslaughter of his wife Michelle during a fight at the family home in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, in April.

Mr Justice Sir David Penry-Davey, sentencing O'Leary, said: "You inflicted upon Michelle O'Leary serious injuries which resulted in her death.

Strangled to death

"Albeit the jury found that you didn't intend to kill her or to cause her really serious bodily harm and, of course, in sentencing you I loyally follow the findings of the jury.

"The fact remains that by strangling her that day you caused her death.

"You have deprived her of life and you have deprived Catherine and Ryan of their mother.

"I accept that you are remorseful, but your responsibility in those circumstances is heavy.

"The sentence on you will not be a lengthy one because I loyally follow the findings of the jury."

'Deeply disappointed'

Members of Mrs O'Leary's family gasped and sobbed as the judge delivered his sentence.

Speaking outside the court, Mr and Mrs O'Leary's daughter Catherine, holding the hand of brother, Ryan, said: "We are deeply, deeply disappointed in the verdict and the sentence.

"Now we have all got to try to rebuild our lives without our mother."

Mr O'Leary's brother, Kevin, said: "This was a tragedy for the family.

"We all loved Michelle and were devastated by her death."

He refused to comment on whether the sentence was fair.