The devastated partner of murdered Lorraine Cox has revealed the full emotional impact her horrific death has had on her.
Elise Fallow paid a moving tribute to woman she hoped to spent rest of her life with, saying all colour has been "stolen" from her life.
The couple planned to spend the rest of their lives together and had big plans for the future, she said.
The tragic woman had come back down to Exeter a few weeks before her death at the hands of 24-year-old Azam Mangori.
He killed and dismembered the 32-year-old in his flat above a kebab shop in the city in September last year.
Devon Live reports that the couple were planning to start a family together in the years ahead.
Mangori was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 20 years by a judge at Exeter Crown Court.
Releasing a statement about her loss and heartache her partner's murder last year has had, Ms Fallow says she will never get over the devastating time.
"The murder of Lorraine is something I will never recover from," she said.
"Every day I think about things that will never happen again. We'll never kiss and cuddle and hold hands. We'll never explore the countryside together.
"I'll never see her smile or hear her infectious laugh. I'll never feel her warmth or her love."
She had fallen in love with a 'happy, smiling, beautiful woman' but her dreams of a life together were shattered.
"Although I know she is gone there is always a small piece of me which thinks she will walk through the door to greet me." She now felt broken with despair each and every day.
"It is a constant battle to keep my head above water," Elise added. "Every breath I take hurts. My heart is broken never to be repaired."
She described the 'mental torture' of knowing what had happened to Lorraine saying she would watch video clips of her 'just to hear her voice and looked at her picture just to see her smile'.
The trial was told Ms Fallow and Lorraine had been in a relationship for two years.
They had been engaged to be married and Ms Fallow described Lorraine as her best friend and central part of her family unit.
They had met in 2018 and lived in Exeter together before moving up to Scotland in October of the following year.
She said lockdown had been difficult and Lorraine wanted to see her family back in Exeter.
She headed back to her home city on August 14 - just a couple of weeks before she died - but the pair were in constant contact.
When Lorraine went missing on September 1, Mangori used her phone to pretend she was still alive. He sent messages to a number of friends and family, including her partner, impersonating her.
Ms Fallow said in her statement at his sentencing: "I am a shell of the person Lorraine knew. Although I am still breathing I'm not living. Most days it is like the colour has been stolen from my life.'
She says the emotional pain of 'knowing the love of my life is not by my side' is made worse by the Post-Traumatic Stress, anxiety and depression her death has caused.
Mr Justice Garnham praised Ms Fallow for her courage and speaking so movingly about her ordeal.
Mangori denied murder but was found guilty at the trial.
He must serve a minimum of 20 years before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.
