ARMED police were called into track down a "brutal and calculated" killer.

Raymond Hoadley, 62, was pretending it was business as usual the day after killing estranged wife Jackie Hoadley, 58, in Eastbourne.

He went through the motions of an arranged meeting with Jackie and their adopted disabled daughter, in the town centre.

Then he rang a social worker about Jackie "not showing up" and was seen sauntering through Eastbourne town centre.

Read more on this story:

There was an odd exchange at a repair shop where Hoadley handed in an iPad for free.

He then drove to see their adopted disabled son at Chailey Heritage Foundation near Lewes.

The Argus: Evidence presented to the jury during the caseEvidence presented to the jury during the case

But it was part of his pretence to cover his tracks for killing Jackie in her bed the night before.

He was still driving the same "distinctive" vehicle, a Renault van, that had been seen on CCTV parked near Jackie's home in Broad Oak Close on the night of them murder.

Armed police swooped in to arrest Hoadley on suspicion of murder.

The Argus: Raymond Hoadley was found guilty of the murder of Jackie Hoadley in EastbourneRaymond Hoadley was found guilty of the murder of Jackie Hoadley in Eastbourne

Meanwhile neighbours in Broad Oak Close were shocked to see crime scene investigators called in.

A broken fence panel was found by officers during a search. Hoadley had vaulted over the fence and had left his boot print on the wheelie bin outside.

Following the guilty verdict, Detective Chief Inspector Andy Wolstenholme said: "We welcome the jury decision to convict Raymond Hoadley of the murder of his wife.

The Argus: The family of Jackie Hoadley and DCI Andy Wolstenholme from Sussex Police outside Hove Crown CourtThe family of Jackie Hoadley and DCI Andy Wolstenholme from Sussex Police outside Hove Crown Court

“It was a brutal and calculated attack and one that Raymond Hoadley consistently denied any involvement with.

“He sought to disguise his guilt in a web of lies with a thin veneer of truth.

“However, police, prosecution and ultimately jury were able to see through those lies and hold him to account for the terrible, terrible crime he committed."