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A killer who beat and strangled his partner to death with a television cable was convicted from beyond the grave after officials recovered harrowing messages from his victim.

Ruth Baker, 48, was murdered by her then-boyfriend George Chalmers, 54, earlier this year during a brutal attack that followed months of physical abuse. Her body was discovered by police at Chalmers' home on Tempest Road, Beeston, in Leeds on March 30 this year. Her partner called emergency services after the act and told them he had strangled Ruth following an argument.

Chalmers, whom Ruth had met in early 2023, was arrested and charged with a murder that following day, Easter Sunday after police found evidence that Ruth had been beaten. Her daughter has told how messages the mum had sent her then-partner were vital in showing how Chalmers, who initially denied murder, "manipulated" her, with one in particular proving vital for obtaining justice.

reports that the beloved mum-of-three's death followed months of abuse at the hands of Chalmers, who first battered Ruth during a romantic getaway in November 2023. Police found one message sent after that first beating which showed how she was being violently assaulted by her partner.

The text read: "You can't let that happen again. Next time you could kill someone." Other messages sent by the mum included images and videos of her body seen by her daughter, who she told injuries were the result of a fall down the stairs. She added in the message: "Don't worry I won't report you, but you can't let this happen again to anyone else you meet."

In a separate message, Ruth tells Chalmers she had "two black eyes" because he "punched me in the face and head". And in another she said: "I don't understand what would make you want to kill me...I thought I was going to die when you strangled me." Chalmers said in his responses that he "wished he could turn back the clock" and that he was "p**** off" for "doing that to you".

He said in other messages: "I will never forget what I have done to you. I'm a b****** I know and all you tried to do was try and help me." Chalmers was sentenced to life behind bars after pleading guilty to Ruth's murder and jailed for a minimum of 17 years and six months. Leeds Crown Court heard that he strangled the mum after a night of drinking in a vicious attack.

Nicolle Baker, who is preparing to spend her first without her mum, told The Sun the text messages between the two made it clear that Chalmers was "manipulating her". She said: "When we saw her text messages it was clear he was manipulating her, appealing to her softer side.

"You wrack your brains going over everything trying to work out if there were signs I could have picked up on, but there really wasn't any indication anything was amiss." During the trial, which Ms Baker attended every day and Chalmers attended via video call, it was heard that the 54-year-old had a long record of offences committed against women.

If you would like to seek help, you can visit the Women's Aid information support page on their website . Survivors can also reach help through the Solace Advice Line by calling 08088025565 or by emailing them at . Alternatively, you can also contact A-Sisterhood via call on 07968369588 or by email at .