A teacher who bludgeoned his wife to death after discovering her affair with a colleague has been found guilty of manslaughter

A jury cleared Mark Parnham of murder but rejected his claim he was acting in self-defence when he hit his wife Jillian at least 30 times with a metal bar.

Parnham, a 37-year-old design and technology teacher, bowed his head and trembled as Judge Richard Brown jailed him for six years at Lewes Crown Court.

His solicitor said afterwards Parnham was "a very relieved man".

The judge told Parnham: "That was a horrific attack upon your wife and this court has to balance the requirement to reflect public horror in the taking of a life in these circumstances, with the view the jury has taken of lack of intent.

"No sentence I can impose will reflect the value of the life you took. I cannot restore a loved one to her family, nor a mother to her children."

There were emotional scenes in the public gallery as the jury returned a unanimous verdict after three and a half hours.

Some of Parnham's friends and relatives wept openly as he was led to the cells.

Before the verdict was delivered, Parnham's barrister, Michael Wood QC, told the court: "He has lost his wife.

"He will realistically have no contact with his children and he has undoubtedly lost his career.

"Mr Parnham is not going to forget this. It will be with him every day for the rest of his life."

Outside the court, Parnham's solicitor, David Street, said: "I am actually very happy at the verdict."

Mr Street said they would consider appealing.

Detective Inspector Steve Johns, the officer in charge of the investigation, said: "This has been a very tragic case, the effects of which have touched a number of people, not least Jillian and Mark Parnham's families, their friends and those they worked with.

"The past ten months have been particularly distressing for those people and my thoughts and those of my team go out to them today."

Parnham, who taught at Millais School in Horsham, denied murdering his 38-year-old wife, a maths teacher at the same school.

Mother-of-two Jillian was found in a pool of blood at their home in Millmead in Ashington, near Storrington, in March last year, after Parnham confronted her about her affair with fellow Millais teacher Chris Worth, 47.

As the verdict was delivered, Parnham's mother, Patricia, broke down and wept on her husband Gary's shoulder.

Throughout the trial the couple refused to discuss the case.

Afterwards, they left the court by a back door without speaking to anyone.