Murderer's life term 'is justice'

The family of a Shropshire man, murdered in a brutal attack days before Christmas, said justice had been done after his killer was jailed.

Daniel Micklethwaite was starting a life sentence today after admitting the murder of Joseph Hayward. He was jailed at Stafford Crown Court yesterday.

Mr Hayward died after being attacked by Micklethwaite in Coney Green, Oswestry, early on December 22 last year.

The court heard the attack had been recorded on a mobile phone as Mr Hayward, 50, of Laburnam Drive, Oswestry, had been making a call, and more than 40 punches could be heard.

Micklethwaite, 28, of Old Whittington Road, Gobowen, was sentenced to life and will serve a minimum of 11 years and 86 days.

Following the sentence, Mr Hayward's wife, Karen, said: "Justice has been done as far as we are concerned. Perhaps we can move on a bit now. At least he is going to serve his time."

In a statement, she added: "Joe was a loving, caring family man. Having him taken away from us in such horrible circumstances has broke all of our family's hearts. Waking up every morning is hard, you wonder if it was just a dream then the reality hits you like a brick."

She added: "Joe is and always will be sorely missed."

Mr Hayward lived his life for his family, plastering - the job he loved, fishing, Christmas and their annual family holiday, she said.

She went on: "Joe was a big kid at Christmas. He did the house up every year like Santa's grotto - this makes the situation seem even more cruel and harder to cope with as he was killed just before, which should have been a happy, family time."

The deputy senior officer in the case, Acting Chief Inspector Jason Wells said: "I would like to thank the community of Oswestry, members of the public who came forward to assist police in this inquiry and businesses who supplied CCTV.

"It was a difficult time of year, being three days before Christmas and the holiday period. Many people gave up valuable time to assist the police in the investigation."

By Suzanne Roberts