Former David Blunkett aide strangled ex-girlfriend after he hacked her emails and learned of her new love
Martin Collett met Angela Hoyt while working at the Home office in 2005
Collett hacked Miss Hoyt's emails and impersonated her, putting her job with Red Cross at risk
He declared: 'You're going to pay for this' then strangled her while she ran a bath
Miss Hoyt reported Collett to police just days before brutal killing
Collett jumped in front of a speeding train after murder
By Matt Blake
A former aide to David Blunkett strangled his estranged girlfriend when he learned she had met someone new before throwing himself under a train, an inquest heard today.
Martin Collett hacked the email accounts of Red Cross worker Angela Hoyt and found she had met a new love.
The discovery sent Collett, 35, into a jealous rage and he declared: 'You're going to pay for this' before killing her while she ran a bath.
Killer: Martin Collett killed Angela Hoyt in the bathroom and then wrote a suicide note in which he said there 'wasn't a chance in hell' he would let her leave him
Holding her head under the running water, he strangled her before leaving her lifeless body slumped in the tub.
He left a suicide note saying there 'wasn't a chance in hell' he would let her leave him.
A joint inquest into both of their deaths heard Miss Hoyt had reported Collett to police for harassment two days before she was killed but asked the police not to do anything, saying she wanted to resolve the situation herself.
The 34-year-old communications officer had just returned from working in Pakistan where she had met her new boyfriend.
On reporting Collett, Miss Hoyt told police: 'He's been telling lies about me.'
She told officers she was worried he had hacked her emails and made Facebook posts in her name because they were of a political nature and could affect her career with the impartial Red Cross.
She told officers: 'I feel completely out of control. I just want him to stop what he's doing and stop trying to ruin my life.'
But detectives found Miss Hoyt's body four days later in May last year after her identical twin sister Ami Watanabe raised the alarm when she stopped answering her calls.
Investigation: Angela Hoyt, who was found dead by police officers at her house in Glebeland in Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire Coroners Court heard Collett went on the run after strangling Miss Hoyt, sparking a nationwide manhunt.
His remains were found on rail tracks half a mile away from their £200,000 home in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
Police Sergeant Leah Freeland said she broke down in tears when she was told the tragic news of Miss Hoyt's death.
She said: 'When she came to see me she was almost apologetic, as if she thought she was bothering us.'
Collett and Miss Hoyt met in 2005 when they were both working for the Home Office under former Home Secretary David Blunkett. Angela worked as a press officer and he as an adviser.
Collett had retrained as a pilot but was unable to find work so started a job as a trainee health and safety inspector which he was unhappy about. He was also £30,000 in debt.
Victim: Angela Hoyt (left) with her twin sister Ami Watanabe
The pair had already split several times and print outs of emails between Angela and her sister left on the coffee table showed how she had found happiness with her new partner while in Pakistan.
Mrs Watanabe had warned her sister that Collett may try to kill her, but she had been reassured that he was not a danger.
Following today's inquest, Angela's family issued a statement saying: 'The loss of our Angela has left a giant void in our life. We are absolutely devastated.
'There are no words or amount of time that will take away the grief we feel. Angela was a humanitarian, she loved the good work she was doing with the International Committee of the Red Cross and was talented at it. It gave her a huge sense of purpose.
'The murder of my twin was a violent end to a bright life. We miss her every day.'
Scene: The property in Hatfield, Herts, where Angela Hoyt was found dead
In recording the verdicts of unlawful killing and suicide, Herts Coroner Edward Thomas said: 'He (Collett) found it very difficult to get over the final break up.
'She (Miss Hoyt) was trying to deal with it in a way which was beneficial to both of them.
'Martin Collett found it very difficult to cope with that. He didn’t have much going for him.'
Mr Thomas added: 'It is clear police spent a long time with Angela and discussed appropriate ways of dealing with the matter. In my judgment, what they did was the right thing.'
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