A mother and daughter have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering and defrauding a retired bookmaker from Wealdstone.

Shirley Banfield, 64, was found guilty of murdering her husband, Don Banfield, this afternoon at the Old Bailey.

The couple’s 40-year-old daughter Lynette was also found guilty.

Mrs Banfield was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 18 years, for murder. She was also charged with dishonestly retaining a wrongful credit, conspiracy to defraud, forgery and conspiracy to pervert the court of justice.

Lynette was handed down a life sentence with a minimum of 16 years for murder, as well as being charged with conspiracy to defraud, forgery and conspiracy to pervert the court of justice.

Trinidadian-born Don Banfield had lived with his wife and their daughter in Locket Road for 17 years before he vanished in May 2001.

He was reported missing by a friend a few days later, and it was believed he left home voluntarily, but he remained on the National Missing Persons Database.

A routine review into the case in 2009 showed irregularities in relation to his state and private pensions, even though the retired bookmaker was still missing.

The investigation was handed to the Homicide and Serious Crime Command and the Banfield's home in Locket Road was searched, but no traces of him were found.

His wife and daughter were arrested at their home in Kent for murder and fraud offences in February 2010, but were bailed as enquiries continued.

Detectives for the Department of Work and Pensions and handwriting experts established that letters which were supposedly written by Mr Banfield had been forged by his wife and daughter.

The pair were then charged with murder and conspiracy to defraud and pervert the court of justice in July 2011.

Detective Chief Inspector Howard Groves, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command Unit, said: "Shirley and Lynette's actions were driven by pure greed, and the evidence to support this is overwhelming."

Mr Banfield’s body has never been found, but Detective Groves added the police will continue looking for it, to give him the "dignity he deserves" to rest in peace.