Three evil yobs – including one wearing an electronic tag – have been jailed for life for battering an artist to death following a 24-hour booze binge.
Callum Dickinson, Christopher Royston and Karl Raynor had been drinking heavily before they launched the unprovoked attack on 47-year-old Simon Hay on October 12 last year.
After the brutal attack Mr Hay was left with 17 fractures to his ribs, a broken nose, broken fingers and a broken sternum after he was kicked and stamped on by the men.
Mr Hay, who had recently moved into a flat next door to Dickinson in Beeston, Notts., had been invited to have a drink with his new neighbour before he was set upon by the trio.
Dickinson, who was wearing an electronic tag, had breached a curfew to go out drinking with Royston and Raynor the night before the murder.
Mr Hay died as a result of the horrific injuries and choking on his own blood in Dickinson’s flat.
His battered body wasn’t discovered until the following day.
On Wednesday the trio were all jailed for life after they were found guilty of murder at Nottingham Crown Court.
Dickinson, 24, from Beeston, Nottingham, and Raynor, 32, also from Beeston, received a minimum term of 18 years.
Royston, 23, from Cotgrave, Nottingham, was caged for 20 years – the highest sentence of the three after he kicked Mr Hay in the head so hard it left an imprint of his shoe.
Judge Gregory Dickinson QC said the murder of Mr Hay, was “brutal, merciless and utterly pointless”.
He told the killers: “He [Mr Hay] died of severe brain injury and inhaling his own blood.
“You know that the only sentence for murder is one of imprisonment for life.
“You will also know that the court is required to specify the minimum you will each serve before you are released on licence.”
The court heard the three had a catalogue of previous convictions for violence including armed robbery, wounding and assault with Royston first convicted aged just 12.
Prosecutor Ian Unsworth QC said “All three men bear responsibility for his death.
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“The defendants were involved in a group attack where the victim was outnumbered and left dead or dying; his wallet found removed from his coat and personal effects strewn around his body.”
Speaking afterwards Mr Hay’s mother said her son, who had a degree in art hisotry and was a talented artist, had been “cruelly” left to die on his own.
She added: “He had a genetic illness in that his iron levels were very high and damaging.
“Along with this came depression and arthritic problems.”
Speaking after the case, Detective Sergeant Caroline Toulson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a brutal, senseless, killing.
“Dickinson, Royston and Raynor had been on 24-hour drinking spree, which had already seen them involved in altercations in the pubs they had frequented.
“Tragically, this continued with Simon Hay as their defenceless victim.
“Not only did the three men beat and kick him to death but they left him to be discovered by another resident a day later.”
