THE partner of a policewoman from York whose body was found in a shallow woodland grave has been jailed for life after admitting murdering the mum-of-two.

Peter Foster, himself a former police detective constable, had previously pleaded not guilty to killing Detective Constable Heather Cooper, 33, from Acomb, but he changed his plea in court today.

Foster, 36, who lived with Miss Cooper in Haslemere, Surrey, changed his plea to guilty at Lewes Crown Court today. He will serve at least 17 years in prison

Miss Cooper, who was serving with Surrey Police, was stabbed before her body was dumped in Blackdown Woods, near Lurgashall, West Sussex, last October.

She was killed at the couple's home while she was on maternity leave with her second child, who was born just weeks prior to her death.

A post-mortem examination carried out at the Royal Surrey County Hospital confirmed death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head and a stab wound to the throat.

Miss Cooper, who grew up in Acomb, joined Surrey Police in 2003 and worked in the Public Protection Investigation Unit based at Guildford.

During her career she received several letters of praise from senior officers for her work on various crimes and in 2009 was given a commendation by the force for her "professionalism, dedication and commitment".