Last week saw the culmination of Southend’s biggest ever criminal case.

Ali Harbi Ali, 26, was sentenced to a whole-life term for the murder of Southend West MP Sir David Amess.

The homegrown terrorist was given Britain’s toughest possible sentence, meaning he will likely die behind bars.

Here we take a look at a summary of the overwhelming evidence presented against Ali.

2014: Ali Harbi Ali considers travelling to Syria to join Islamic State but does not go.

2016: Around this time Ali buys a 12-in knife from Argos, which he used to kill Sir David.

2017: He decides to carry out an attack in the United Kingdom.

From May 2019: Ali notes down an MP’s home address and an attack plan and saves it on his mobile phone.

2020: The terror plan is disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

March to July 2021: Ali stakes out the west London home address of Government Minister Michael Gove six times.

July to September: He visits the House of Parliament six times.

September 17: Ali carries out more hostile reconnaissance outside Mike Freer MP’s constituency surgery in Finchley, north London.

September 27: Ali finds out about Sir David’s constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex and emails to make an appointment claiming to be moving to the area. Following an email exchange with aide Rebecca Hayton, an appointment is fixed for noon on October 15.

October 15: At 8.40am, Ali sets off from his home in Kentish Town. He travels by foot and train to Gospel Oak Station and Barking, arriving at Leigh-On-Sea at 10.22am.

At 10am Sir David Amess begins his constituency surgery at the Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea. He is accompanied by two staff, Ms Hayton and Julie Cushion.

Between 10.28am and 11.50am, Ali is captured on CCTV walking around Leigh-on-Sea, arriving at the church shortly before noon.

Just after 12noon, Ms Hayton escorts Ali to meet the MP in a vestry office.

Ali tells Sir David he wants to talk about foreign affairs before stabbing him 21 times. Shortly before or after Ali sends a WhatsApp message to friends and family explaining his attack “in the name of Allah”.

At 12.07pm, Essex Police receive a report of the incident from Ms Cushion.

At 12.13pm, Constituent Yvonne Eaves calls 999 and describes how she and partner Darren King were being threatened by Ali.

While Ms Eaves is on the phone, Pc Scott James and Pc Ryan Curtis, who are armed with batons, arrive at the church and apprehend 26-year-old Ali, who drops the 12-inch long carving knife.

At 1.10pm, Sir David is pronounced dead.