Dusseldorf  - A 31-year-old man who strangled his ex- girlfriend with the strap of her handbag was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Dusseldorf court on Tuesday.

The court found that the plumber sat on his victim under the pretense of offering her a massage, but proceeded to strangle her instead.

He then used his ex-girlfriend's debit card to withdraw 2,000 euros (3,000 dollars) from her bank account.

The court suspected that the perpetrator had wanted the cash to impress his new girlfriend.

"He wanted to offer her something and thought he could only win her over if he got hold of money," the presiding judge said.

The man had ended his relationship with the 34-year-old kindergarten teacher on the day he strangled her. Months before, they had discussed getting married.

The day of the incident, the couple began to argue and she insulted him, calling him a child molester. The man had previously been convicted for possessing child pornography.

The accused man confessed to the deed at the start of the trial.(dpa)