A BT worker and respected former school governor who harboured “delusional” beliefs that his wife was having an affair was today (Monday)ordered to serve a minimum jail term of 14 years for knifing her to death.

Paul Jordan, aged 54, of Ffordd Siabod, Felinheli, Gwynedd, had denied murdering Betty Jordan, 53, a care worker, at Bangor last July. Jailing him for life, after he was convicted by a jury, Judge Rhys Rowlands told Jordan, who showed no emotion, that their children’s loss was “profound.”

He said :”There was a significant degree of premeditation on your part, the attack was planned. You left home intending to attack your wife.”

The defendant had a mental illness, however. Recently he had become obsessed with the belief she was having an affair. “You continued to labour under this false impression,” Judge Rowlands declared.

Clare Jordan, their daughter, told Caernarfon crown court her late mother was an “amazingly caring and loving” woman and the defendant had been a “brilliant” dad.

Her brother, Paul (correct) Jordan, his voice breaking with emotion, said his father wasn’t “Inherently evil” but he couldn’t face speaking to him. “I still haven’t heard the truth from him. Why did he do it? I may never believe any account he gives to me.”

The judge heard Jordan’s first grandchild is due. The victim’s sister Susan St John said she had “bottled up her problems” and the defendant maintained a “facade of a loving husband.”

Jordan’s defence QC Gordon Cole said :”He wishes to publicly apologise through me for that he did. He’s remorseful.”

Jordan remained silent throughout his trial about the tragic events, failing to give evidence. He had believed his estranged wife was having an affair although there was no evidence to support this. A psychiatrist said he had a severe mental illness.

In the week leading up to the murder, the defendant had called “Quickie Divorce.” But he instead stabbed his wife in the heart at her home.

The defence claimed it was a case of manslaughter. In June a GP recorded a long consultation with Jordan who appeared increasingly paranoid about his wife, the defendant saying he had evidence of an affair.

Judge Rowlands told the jury the victim was “plainly a good woman and much-loved mother.” The jurors had to decide whether it was a case of murder or if there were “diminished responsibility.”

Opening the case, prosecuting QC Peter Griffiths said Irish-born Jordan had been obsessed for some time with the “problem” of his wife’s alleged affair.

His solution “was a terminal one.” He drove to Trem y Garnedd in the morning and stabbed his wife in the heart.

Mr Griffiths said the couple had met in their late teens and had lived in Ireland before moving to the Bangor area.

The defendant had a long-standing drink problem but held down a good job. The prosecution maintained his actions on the morning of the tragedy were both “controlled and deliberate.”

After the sentencing Jordan’s family said :”There is no verdict that a jury can decide upon or sentence that a judge can pass that can ever be called justice in these circumstances. There are simply no winners. We will never be able to bring mum back but we will always have our amazing memories of her and pray that she can now finally rest in peace.”