A “dangerous, selfish and manipulative” killer who strangled his ex-wife arrived at a police station eating a Chinese takeaway as he confessed to police what he had done.
Mark Donovan, 39, inflicted 70 separate injuries on mum-of-two Elise Mason, 37, in a sustained attack at his home in Great Baddow in Essex on 25 April 2023.
He then went for a drink at a local pub, had a massage and ordered a takeaway in the early hours before wandering in to Ilford police station to tell officers he had done “the worst thing”.
When officers searched his home in Rothmans Avenue, they found Ms Mason unresponsive, with serious injuries later found to have been caused by blows to the head and strangulation.
Elise Mason, wearing glasses, and smiling in a selfie
Elise Mason, 37, was a mother-of-two and had separated from Mark Donovan.
Credit: Essex Police/Family photo
She also had bruises to her hands and arms indicating she had tried to defend herself.
Donovan was found guilty of her murder in just three hours on Friday at Chelmsford Crown Court, where he will be sentenced on Wednesday.
Officers investigating Ms Mason’s death discovered she was last seen approaching Donovan’s house at about 4.09pm.
He left the house at 6.30pm, having fatally attacked her, and headed for a nearby pub, where he tried to get rid of her phone.
He then visited family and two massage parlours before handing himself in at Ilford police station in the early hours of the following day.
