An evil axe killer took his ex-girlfriend for her final meal at McDonald's before murdering her.
Katie Kenyon had texted Andrew Burfield to say she was "ready and excited for a new chapter" - but hours later he'd buried her body in a shallow grave in the woods.
He then used her phone to text himself and her children in a desperate bid to cover his tracks.
The 51-year-old changed his plea to admit to the murder of Ms Kenyon, 33, on the third day of his trial yesterday. Today he was jailed at Preston Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 32 years.
He was re-arraigned on the charge before the jury formally found him guilty.
Burfield will be sentenced today.
His Ford Transit van was spotted on CCTV on April 22 before it stopped off so the pair could get fast food on their way to Gisburn Forest in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire.
Unbeknown to mum Ms Kenyon, it would be the last thing she ever ate.
Burfield told police he had accidentally killed his ex when he threw an axe at a tree as part of a 'bet' and it hit her head, Preston Crown Court heard.
However, a post mortem showed she was struck an estimated 12 times.
Seven days after the murder, and having launched a major missing person investigation, police found Ms Kenyon's body.
David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, said in opening the trial on Monday, Burfield, of Burnley, was arrested and interviewed on four occasions.
He initially denied any knowledge of her whereabouts but in his penultimate interview he suddenly changed his version of events.
He told police he had taken Ms Kenyon, also of Burnley and who he had been in a relationship with since 2019, to Gisburn Forest for a picnic.
He claimed she had "bet" him he could not hit her can of Coke with his axe.
Burfield said he couldn't get her body to the van so buried her in a grave measuring 1.5ft in depth and covered her with twigs and leaves to prevent animals getting to her.
He also said he'd put Ms Kenyon's phone and bank cards in a fire and took the ashes to a bin outside a Spar.
In an effort to cover his tracks, Burfield had messaged himself and his victim's children off her phone, the jury was told.
He then reportedly used his own phone to send Ms Kenyon voice notes, begging for her to call him.
The evil killer used the same phone his victim had messaged her mum with just weeks before, when she had said she feared for her life.
