Dad's murderer jailed for life

A 28-year-old Shropshire man was today sentenced to life behind bars after admitting carrying out a murder which was recorded on his victim's mobile phone.

Daniel Micklethwaite, of Old Whittington Road, Gobowen, pleaded guilty to the murder of family man Joseph Hayward, 50, of Laburnum Drive, Oswestry, when he appeared at Stafford Crown Court today.

Micklethwaite was told he would have to serve a minimum of 11 years and 86 days before he would be considered for parole.

Mr Hayward died of head injuries in Coney Green in Oswestry in the early hours of December 22 last year.

The court today heard the whole incident had been recorded on a mobile phone as Mr Hayward was in the middle of making a phone call when he was attacked.

Miss Rachel Brand, prosecuting, told the court more than 40 punches could be heard on the phone.

She said Mr Hayward had been out for the evening when a confrontation had occurred in Fitz's bar and both men were told to leave.Miss Brand said witnesses in Coney Green saw Micklethwaite approach Mr Hayward but he stopped when he realised the witnesses had seen him and waited for his moment.

"It is plain he intended to ambush Joseph Hayward and that's what he did," she said.

"One of the people at the scene found Joseph Hayward's phone on the ground and handed it to police. Joseph Hayward had been in the middle of making his phone call.

"Mr Julian Shaw, for Micklethwaite, said at no stage did he set out to kill Mr Hayward. In a letter to the court Micklethwaite said he was extremely remorseful.

Sentencing Micklethwaite, Judge Simon Tonking said: "This was an attack to teach him a lesson, not to kill him, and I am prepared to accept when you left Mr Hayward you believed he was alive and believed he would survive.

"When the recording was played you were genuinely shocked and horrified by what you had done and may not have realised how far you had gone. You expressed remorse at that stage."

He added: "Mr Hayward was 50, he was a family man, married with children and grandchildren living an ordinary life. That life you took away.

"You and Mr Hayward have lived in the same small community and you had a history of animosity and confrontation and I accept that was by no means one-sided."

By Suzanne Roberts