Sentence of killer New Forest policeman Timothy Brehmer increased by three years

A HORDLE policeman who killed his lover, was cleared of her murder but admitted manslaughter, has had his sentence increased by three years.

The original 10-and-a-half year term given to Timothy Brehmer (41), of Woodcock Lane, was “unduly lenient” senior judges at the High Court ruled. Meanwhile, a separate bid by the incarcerated former officer to appeal his sentence was rejected.

Reacting, newly appointed Attorney General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, said: “Because of his actions, Claire Parry’s family have lost a wife and mother, and her community have lost a dedicated nurse. I greatly welcome the decision by the Court of Appeal today to increase Brehmer’s sentence.”

Brehmer, a father-of-one, is serving time in relation to the death of mother-of-two Claire Parry. She died following an incident at the car park of the Horns Inn pub in Parley, near Christchurch, on 9th May.

Brehmer stood trial at Salisbury Crown Court last year having denied murder in relation to the incident and was cleared of that charge by a jury. He admitted a change of manslaughter.

The trial heard Mrs Parry, a nurse, had been having an affair with Brehmer for 10 years but had asked they meet as she was upset having discovered his affairs with other women.

Prosecutors claimed Brehmer strangled her in a rage after she sent a text to his wife, Martha, from his phone which said “I’m cheating on you”. However, Brehmer denied that and said he inadvertently was “responsible” for her death while trying to get her out of his car.

Handing down sentence, Judge Richard Jacobs determined Brehmer “lost his self-control” during the incident, “deliberately” took Mrs Parry by the neck and applied “significant force with your forearm or the crook of your elbow” which caused the “severe neck injury”.

After the punishment was announced, Dorset Police said it had sacked Brehmer from the force and he had been placed on the national barred list.

Chief Constable James Vaughan added: “As police officers our duty, first and foremost, is to protect the public, and for a serving officer to take a life of another in this way is incomprehensible.

“His conduct fell dramatically below that which I, his colleagues and the public expect from a police officer and he clearly has no place holding the office of constable.”