A jealous thug who was jailed for at least 31 years for the savage knife murder of his ex-girlfriend deserved everything he got, top judges have ruled.

Jason Liam Cooper, aged 28, of Denbigh, planned the brutal killing of 33-year-old Laura Stuart, robbing two children of their mother.

The pair had been in a relationship, but Cooper could not cope with their breakup and became intent on killing her.

He told friends of his murderous mood and even warned Miss Stuart that he was planning murder.

She died following a savage knife attack as she walked home from a night out in August last year.

Afterwards, Cooper told a witness: "I said I was going to do it - and I did".

He denied murder, but was convicted at Mold Crown Court in March and was jailed for life, with 31 years to serve before seeking parole.

He was given a concurrent 12-year term for the intentional grievous bodily harm on David Roberts, a friend of Miss Stuart's.

Today, he appealed, but three of the country's top judges sitting at the Court of Appeal in London rejected his bid for a shorter time behind bars.

"He caused huge distress and grief to many people, including two children who must grow up without their mother," said Lady Justice Hallett.

The court heard the killing occurred as Miss Stuart walked home from a night out with Mr Roberts in Denbigh town centre.

He had bumped into her in a pub during the evening and went home, where he armed himself with a kitchen knife before returning.

Coming across her again, he ran, screaming and shouting, and stabbed her three times in the back as she tried to flee.

When Mr Roberts tried to intervene, Cooper turned the knife on him, stabbing him three times too.

He then went back to Miss Stuart and kicked her three times to the chest and face.

Cooper left the scene and got rid of his phone and the murder weapon, but returned later to hand himself in.

Mobile phone evidence later showed that he had sent a series of text messages to people, suggesting he was out to kill.

At his trial, he claimed that his alcohol dependence syndrome had diminished his responsibility for what he did to the extent he could not be guilty of murder.

But the jury rejected his defence and convicted him.

Appealing today (Thursday), his barrister Patrick Harrington QC argued that crown court judge, Mr Justice Picken, had imposed too long a minimum term.

Cooper was of previous good character and still young, facing a sentence longer than his age at the time of the offence.

He had also "done everything he can" to improve himself since being sent down, said the QC.

He is working in the prison library and was commended for his actions after coming across the body of a prisoner who committed suicide.

But dismissing the appeal, Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with Mr Justice Stuart Smith and Mrs Justice May, said 31 years was appropriate for the terrible murder.

"He armed himself with a knife and took it to the scene specifically to use it to kill Miss Stuart," she told the court.

"He planned to kill because, if he could not have her, no one else could.

"He made sure Miss Stuart knew of his intention and succeeded by stabbing her several times and kicking her in the head as she was defenceless and bleeding.

"Furthermore, there was a background of coercive behaviour.

"The mitigation was limited - he had no previous convictions.

"But, far from showing remorse, he appeared to be proud of what he had done.

"We have considered with care the judge's very full sentencing remarks. He sets out precisely why he took such a serious view of Cooper's conduct and culpability.

"Jason Cooper killed one young mother and nearly killed a friend with no justification or provocation whatsoever."

Cooper, who appeared via a prison video link, shook his head in disbelief when his appeal was dismissed.