A father who murdered his four-year-old son in a "cold-hearted" attack to get revenge on his wife for having an affair has been jailed for life.
Christopher Hawkins, 47, of Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, told his two daughters he loved them as he was led away from the dock at Leeds Crown Court.
He was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison for stabbing Ryan to death. He was also given a 12-year sentence to run concurrently for attempting to murder his 14-year-old daughter Donna in the same attack at his home on September 23 last year.
Hawkins stabbed his son nine times during the attack and he was killed by wounds to his chest, two of which had penetrated his heart.
Sentencing Hawkins, Mr Justice Wilkie said: "A more horrific crime it is hard to imagine than savagely and repeatedly to stab your young son who, in his agony, had to try to fend off blows from one of the people he was most entitled to expect love and affection (from).
"Although to this court, and after the event, you profess great love for Ryan and mourned his passing, in my judgment, having seen you give evidence and had the opportunity to assess your genuineness, these were crocodile tears."
Sheet-metal worker Hawkins and his wife, Valerie Gee, separated in May last year after she told him she no longer loved him. He later discovered she had begun an affair with taxi driver Lee Tinker - whom she met at her uncle's cab firm where she worked - while they were still living together. Hawkins was described as being "extremely unhappy" about the relationship.
The day before the attack would have been his and Miss Gee's 17th wedding anniversary. The judge said: "I'm satisfied that you used him (Ryan) cold-heartedly as a vehicle for avenging yourself on your wife."
He praised Donna for the calm way she gave evidence during the eight-day trial and said it was in "stark contrast" to the performance of Hawkins, whom he accused of not having the "moral courage" to face up to what he did, instead blaming "something evil" inside him.
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As he was led away Hawkins, wearing glasses, a dark suit and tie and a white, striped shirt, turned to the packed public gallery, where daughters Donna and Natalie, 16, were sitting, and said: "I love you, Donna, I love you, Natalie."
