wanted

Ms Mason also recounted a conversation with Hutchins' mother 18 months ago during which she told her she wanted the film to be completed because it was her daughter’s "big work".

Despite his early stint in sports journalism, he once said: "Sport is my hobby and keeps me sane. I didn't want it to be my job. I always wanted sport to just be sport."

Defence lawyers said she suffered a mental breakdown and wanted to die with her children but left the car at the last minute.

The deal was done for the Sporting manager on 1 November but his Portuguese club wanted him to wait until the international break before moving.

She said: "The reason we wanted these sessions was to build Elen’s  self confidence and it did the absolute opposite in terms of feeling rejected, or not good enough, or just not important enough."