A STOURBRIDGE man has been jailed for life after he brutally killed a 59-year-old neighbour with mental health problems.

Judge James Burbidge QC at Wolverhampton Crown Court told unemployed Daniel Jones, of Forge Road, he would have to serve a minimum of 18 years for the cold and callous murder of Paul Tompkins, also of Forge Road.

The judge described the attack, which happened at Mr Tompkins’ ground floor flat on New Year’s Day, as a “most brutal and violent one”.

The court was told Jones, aged 34, who boasted to police that he was a trained cage fighter, had used his fists and weapons including scissors and a table fork to attack Mr Tompkins, known as Tonka, about the face, head and chest.

Stephen Linehan QC, prosecuting, said Jones had also armed himself with a knife, a stereo radio and a length of cable to "deliberately inflict pain" on his victim who was left with a catalogue of injuries including a stab wound to his stomach, fractured bones in his neck area - and all of his ribs on the left side of his body broken bar one.

The judge said Mr Tompkins had allowed Jones into his flat as a drinking partner which he said “showed he trusted you and that trust was severely misplaced”.

Jones had been drinking heavily and taking crack cocaine with Mr Tompkins before he turned on him and the judge said: “What the spark was for your aggressive conduct will never be known.”

He described the attack as “ferocious and prolonged” and said it was clear the violence was gratuitous – and he said Jones had displayed what could only be described as cold, calculated behaviour after killing Mr Tompkins.

The judge went on: “The reality is when he was dying you took the only thing of value he had”.

He said Jones had stepped over his victim’s body to unplug his newly-bought flat screen TV and added: “You put it under your arm intending to sell it. That was a callous act.”

The judge said there was no evidence Jones went to the flat to cause Mr Tompkins harm but “certainly in due course there was an intention to kill”.

Jones, who originally told police he’d only punched Mr Tompkins once, admitted murder as his trial was due to start yesterday (Monday June 6).

Michael Burrows QC, defending, said Jones had plainly been affected by drink and he did not have a full or real recollection of what happened inside the flat.

He said the pair had argued over money but the attack had not been planned.

Mr Tompkins was described by his brother Peter as a man who had kept himself to himself, who was not violent or aggressive and whose mental health issues appeared to be improving.

The victim’s sisters Angela and Peggy said in a statement after the sentencing: “Our brother Paul was a gentle and generous man who was considered fondly by those who knew him as was clearly expressed by the many kind comments on social media after his death.

“Those comments and the attendance at Paul’s funeral have been a comfort to his family.”

The pair thanked social services for the help given to Paul in his daily life and for the “excellent support” he received from Home Matters and they said the family was “grateful for the support given by the police at this most distressing time”.

They commended officers for the way they had been kept informed and added: “We are glad their thorough investigations into Paul’s brutal murder have resulted in Daniel Jones being convicted."

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Slevin, the senior investigating officer, said after the case: "Paul Tompkins had offered the hand of friendship to Daniel Jones after meeting him in the street after Jones had stormed out of his house following a family argument on New Year’s Day.

“After the pair had spent the afternoon drinking together in Mr Tompkins’ flat, Jones launched a prolonged and horrific attack.”

He said a post mortem revealed Mr Tompkins had sustained more than 80 injuries and he added: “The severity of the attack is reflected in the sentence handed down by the court."

DCI Slevin said the motive for the assault was not known but Mr Jones stole property from Mr Tompkins afterwards which he sold to buy more alcohol.

He added: “Daniel Jones refused to admit the offence and only pleaded guilty at the last moment when faced with the full weight of evidence collected and offered by the police investigation.”