Man Jailed for Murdering Wife, Hiding Body in Freezer, and Texting Children

David Barraclough, 46, has been sentenced to a minimum of 21 years and six months for the murder of his wife, Carolann Barraclough, 37. The crime occurred on February 20, when Barraclough beat his wife with a claw hammer in their bedroom and subsequently hid her body in a chest freezer. He then used her phone to send texts to her children, attempting to deceive them into believing she was still alive and recovering in hospital.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Barraclough maintained this deception for nearly two weeks while his wife's body remained in the freezer at their home in Horbury, West Yorkshire. During this period, he also searched online for escorts, used dating apps, and spent his wife's money in local pubs. He eventually confessed to the murder on March 5, claiming he had acted after years of domestic abuse, a claim dismissed by the judge as a "callous" self-serving cover story.

Judge Andrew Stubbs KC stated that Barraclough "spun a web of lies and deceit" to cover his actions, including allowing his wife's daughter to exchange messages with her mother's phone, believing she was communicating with Carolann rather than her killer.

Carolann Barraclough, a mother of three, was last seen alive on February 19. The day of the murder, witnesses described her as looking "pale, miserable and terrified," while Barraclough appeared "really, really, really scary." Prosecutors indicated that Barraclough murdered his wife shortly after searching online for escort services in Wakefield.

Sarah Rowley, Carolann's sister, described her as "the bright light of our family" and noted the "agonizingly loud" void her absence has left. She further stated that Barraclough had slowly and calculatingly isolated her sister from loved ones.

Barraclough refused to appear in court for his sentencing. Senior crown prosecutor for Yorkshire, Jill May, commented that the evidence contradicted Barraclough's attempt to portray himself as a victim of domestic abuse.