British man who confessed to murdering young B.C. woman sentenced to life in U.K. prison

A British man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a Vernon, B.C., teenager who moved to England last year to meet him.

Essex Police saidin a statement that Jack Sepple, 23, will spend a minimum of 23years in prison for the death of AshleyWadsworth.

Wadsworth, 19,was stabbed and strangled during a sustained attack in Sepple's Chelmsford, U.K., homeon Feb. 1.

Police said Wadsworth had textedtwofriends that day saying sheneeded help and wanted to leave. These werefollowed by messages saying everything was "sorted,'' which officials later determined were sent after her death.

During a trial preparation hearing in Chelmsford Crown Court last month, Seppleadmitted to the killing. Wadsworthhad moved to England last year to be with Sepple after the two met online.

In a statement shared by police, Wadsworth's mother Christy Gedron saidshe was a beautiful and smart young woman who was "the backbone of our little family."