Who is Paul Hemming and where is he now?

IN 2016, Paul Hemming was placed behind bars after being found guilty of the murder of mum-of-three Natalie Hemming.

Here we take a look at the crimes committed by Hemming, where he is now, and the prison sentence he received.

Who is Paul Hemming?

Paul and Natalie had been together since 2007 and shared a son and a daughter.

Although they weren't married, Natalie took Paul's surname.

Before meeting Hemming, Natalie already had a young daughter from a previous short-term marriage.

On May 1, 2016, Hemming beat Natalie to death at their family home in Milton Keynes after she had made the decision to leave him following a decade of abuse.

A court heard that there had been incidents of violence by Hemming towards Natalie over the years.

Natalie's son, who was just six years old at the time of the attack, had woken up and witnessed the brutal murder through a gap in the door.

Natalie Hemming knew, you were overbearing, controlling, jealous and on occasions violent. You said you would mend your ways but you did not.''

Judge Richard Foster

When the young boy and his two sisters awoke the next morning, Paul Hemming had claimed that their mother had left the house while they were asleep.

The mum-of-three was said to have been killed ‘’in a fit of rage and jealousy’’ after Hemming found out that she had met someone new and as a result was planning to leave him and take the children.

While the children slept in their beds, Hemming carried their mother's body out of their family home, placed it in the boot of his car, and then drove from  Milton Keynes to a wooded area that was located around 30 miles away in south Hertfordshire.

He then went on to invent an elaborate web of lies in a bid to cover up his callous crimes and throw investigating police officers off the scent.

Hemming falsely suggested that the new man had raped his partner and should be made a prime suspect, as well as sending text messages to Natalie's phone expressing his worry over her disappearance.

She was reported missing two days after she vanished by her mother, who voiced concerns to police about Hemming.

Natalie Hemming’s sudden disappearance sparked one of the biggest police searches in Milton Keynes’ history.

After the huge police hunt was launched, Natalie’s remains were discovered in the wooded area three weeks later by a man who had been mowing a meadow nearby.

During Hemming’s trial, Pathologist Dr Olaf Biedrzycki said it was impossible to say what caused her death because of the advanced state of decomposition.

However, the court heard that she had suffered multiple blows to the head with an unknown weapon and was left with a fractured skull and a broken arm.

Where is Paul Hemming now?

In November 2016, Paul Hemming was convicted of murder.

As of February 2024, Hemming remains behind bars.

As he was jailed, Hemming chilling looked over at Natalie's mum and sister and mouthed: "I enjoyed every minute.”

During the sentencing, Judge Richard Foster said: "Natalie Hemming knew you were overbearing, controlling, jealous and on occasions violent. You said you would mend your ways but you did not.

"The manner in which you have conducted yourself since the murder indicates a complete lack of remorse."

Hemming had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter during the trial but denied murder.

How long will Paul Hemming spend in prison?

Paul Hemming was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 20 years before he can be considered for parole.

At the start of the trial, Hemming also pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body and obstructing a coroner in the execution of his duty by "concealing" Natalie's body in the wood.

The police investigation into Natalie’s death is told in the Channel 4 documentary Catching a Killer: The Search for Natalie Hemming.