A Coalville man who strangled his work colleague has today (Monday) been found guilty of her murder.

On the evening of Friday, August 6, last year, 23-year-old Megan Newborough visited Ross McCullam at his home in Windsor Close.

However, she did not return home and her family – with whom she lived in Nuneaton – reported her missing to Warwickshire Police the following day.

They stated she had gone to go for a walk with a man from work, called Ross.

On Saturday, August 7, McCullam was spoken to by officers on the phone and told them Megan had been to see him, but left that evening.

He said had not heard from her since.

However, using a tracking app, her family identified that her phone appeared to be in Hermitage Road, Whitwick.

As a result, they and police located it.

Ross McCullam was found guilty of murder. Photo: Leicestershire Police

Officers then went to Windsor Close and arrested McCullam on suspicion of kidnap.

McCullam was asked by officers if he could say where Megan was.

He told them she was dead and that her body had been left in Charley Road in Woodhouse Eaves.

Officers were immediately deployed to the area and found her in a remote area, underneath an overgrown hedgerow.

McCullam was further arrested on suspicion of murder and the investigation was passed to detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).

In interview, he told officers he had strangled her before cutting her throat.

He told police he had then placed her body in the passenger seat of her car and drove off from his home, disposing of her phone before depositing Megan's body at the spot where it was found. He then continued driving, eventually arriving in Loughborough where he abandoned the vehicle and returned home.

Megan Newborough. Photo courtesy of Megan's family

On August 10, McCullam was charged with Megan's murder.

McCullam, 30, denied the offence but pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

However today (Monday, December 12) at Leicester Crown Court, following a trial spanning several weeks, he was convicted of her murder.

The senior investigating officer from EMSOU – Detective Inspector Jenni Heggs – said: "First and foremost, my deepest and most sincere condolences remain with Megan's family.

"Today's outcome is the end of a lengthy trial which recounted in great detail the weeks and days leading up to her death – and McCullam's attempts to cover up his actions.

"He has never been able to give a full explanation of why he killed Megan. This, without doubt, has caused further pain to her family and friends.

"She was only 23, with her whole life ahead of her and I know those who knew her are still struggling to come to terms with what happened. I hope today's outcome provides them with a degree of closure."