A man, who returned to the scene after murdering a father of two has been sentenced to life in prison.

Marek Hecko, 26 of Rookes Crescent, Chelmsford was found guilty of murder at Chelmsford Crown Court on 13 March. He appeared today, Tuesday 14 March, where he was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 26 years.

The murder investigation was launched by Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate on Monday, 25 July last year, after 44-year-old Adrian Ellingford was seriously assaulted at an address in Nelson Grove, Chelmsford.

Whilst our officers were on scene guard at the address, a heavily intoxicated Marek Hecko approached carrying a bottle of brandy. He started to tell officers that he knew what had happened and that he could help. After becoming confrontational, he was arrested and whilst in custody, he was identified as the main suspect.

Following hundreds of lines of enquiry being pursued by specialist detectives, Hecko was charged within a few days with murder and remanded into custody.

During the trial, which started on 13th February at Chelmsford Crown Court, Hecko tried to claim that he turned up, after seeing what had happened on the news, despite the news being nowhere online and on social media at this point. The court heard how Adrian Ellingford was with a former partner of Hecko’s on the night of his death and that Hecko had exhibited stalking behaviours towards her.

Yesterday, Monday 13 March, a jury unanimously found him guilty of murder. He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court today, where he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 26 years.