The father of a woman brutally murdered by her husband has said he hopes to be able to enjoy his first Christmas since she died.

Four years ago this week Christopher Phillip's daughter Johanna died at the hands of her violent husband Jonathan Croxton.

Croxton, then 24, strangled Johnanna, 21, at their home in Plynlimmon Road, West Hill, Hastings, in December 2005.

Grief-stricken father Mr Phillips said the December was an agonising month as he remembered his daughter's murder, during the time of year families normally spend together.

Mr Phillips, 55, is channelling years of grief into a campaign to tackle domestic violence, in the hope no more women will suffer the same fate as Johnanna.

In the months before her death, Johanna had told friends of her fears that Croxton would kill her and himself. Croxton pretended Johanna had gone missing but police later found her body tied up with garden twine, wrapped in a paddling pool, duvet cover and bin liner hidden under insulation in the loft.

Mr Phillips, who lives in Croydon and works for the Home Office, said: "She was a bright, intelligent girl who was very outgoing and I miss her so much.

“When Jo got married I just said to her 'I hope you are happy'. I had my reservations but she seemed happy. We never suspected this.

“After Johnanna was killed I was off work for months with the same things going round in my mind.

“We knew something was going on but I had no idea it could end up as bad as this.

“Christmas is a hard time of year. It is the time when Johanna was killed and also the time when people normally spend time with their families.

“Finally I feel like I'm going to enjoy this Christmas for the first time in four years. It seems like it is time to move on and come to terms with it.”

He added: “What I am hoping to do is do some work with a domestic violence charity. Work with people and talk to them.

“Christmas is also a time of year when domestic abuse can be particularly bad. My campaign is to raise awareness of domestic violence.

“I really want to save lives this Christmas, that's my motivation behind it. I want to make sure it is something that is talked about.”

Mr Phillips said he wanted to help victims of domestic violence find support in the hope of saving the lives of other women like Johanna.