FORMER doorman Brian Cox will today receive a life sentence after a jury unanimously convicted him of the murder of York father-of-five Mark Webb by slashing his throat with a Stanley knife.

Cox, 29, fatally stabbed Mr Webb in an alleyway in Acomb on March 4, then ran from the scene while his victim bled to death.

Mr Webb’s family yesterday attacked the callous actions of his widow Susan, who said nothing about his injuries in a 999 call immediately after the attack, claimed the death was suicide, and spread lies about it to both police and neighours to protect Cox, her then boyfriend.

After the verdicts, it emerged Mr Webb could have survived the 19cm cut on his neck had he received prompt first aid.

The jury convicted Susan Webb, 30, of Middleton Road, Acomb, of twice perverting justice, by misleading police and cleaning blood from the murder scene.

Mr Webb’s mother, Dianna Atkinson, said: “We are angry at her for all the lies that initially went round in the first place, saying it was suicide. We didn’t say the right goodbye.

“I hope she realises what she has done and I hope they deal with her as she deserves.

“I don’t feel she should get off lightly because of the children. She has done what she has done.”

Cox, 29, of no fixed address, stood impassive in the dock at Leeds Crown Court as the jury returned their verdicts on their third day of deliberation.

Richard Mansell, prosecuting, revealed York A and E consultant Gary Kitchen had told police after seeing the father-of-five’s body: “Had Mr Webb received prompt attention in the form of someone placing pressure on the wound on the jugular, he may have survived this injury.”

Instead, it was nearly an hour before police found his body and alerted the ambulance service.

For Cox, Nicholas Barker said he had not created the situation that led to the murder and that he had not intended to use any violence towards Mr Webb, but had lost his temper. He regretted his actions.

The attack happened after Mr Webb had turned up at the home of Kerry Munton, a friend of his estranged wife.

Cox confronted him outside the house, cut his throat with the knife, and then ran from the scene. Mr Webb staggered to his former marital home, where he died in the garden, while Mrs Webb washed away blood that could have been vital evidence, and then lied about what had happened. The trial had earlier heard that she said to say Mr Webb had cut himself.

Susan Webb, 30, of Middleton Road, Acomb, was released on bail to be sentenced later. She was acquitted of perverting the course of justice by removing the Stanley knife from the scene, and Dawn Heather Coates, 50, of Chapel Terrace, Acomb, was acquitted of perverting justice by washing Cox’s coat.

Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “Cox is clearly a significant danger to the community and he must now face the consequences of this savage attack.”