THE girlfriend of Wisbech murderer Steven French has been jailed for two and a half years for lying to protect him. Joanne Gonsalves, 29, of Church Lane, Tydd St Giles, lived with French at the Wisbech Arms public house. When French stabbed a customer 21

THE girlfriend of Wisbech murderer Steven French has been jailed for two and a half years for lying to protect him.

Joanne Gonsalves, 29, of Church Lane, Tydd St Giles, lived with French at the Wisbech Arms public house.

When French stabbed a customer 21 times after an argument - an offence for which he was last week found guilty of murder and jailed for life- Gonsalves lied and said two strangers had carried out the attack.

After three days of questioning, however, she admitted lying, but not before police had carried out an extensive search for the two mysterious attackers of builder Christoper Garford.

Detective Superintendent Mark Birch, said: "Joanne Gonsalves has received an appropriate sentence for her complicity in covering up how Christopher Garford met his death.

"I hope her sentence reminds people that lying to protect someone else has serious consequences in the eyes of the law."

Sentencing her at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday, Judge Paul Worsley said there was no excuse for her behaviour.