Bully given life term for murder of alcoholic

Adrian Ray, 27, was said to have taken advantage of Ranjib Singh Bassra's vulnerability to exercise a controlling influence over him before he was fatally attacked at the hostel where he lived with other alcoholics and drug-users in Bradford last July.

Ray, of no fixed abode, used Mr Bassra's flat in Thornton Road as his own and a murder trial jury heard he enjoyed a position of power over his victim who suffered from poor health including tuberculosis and epilepsy.

Although Ray had initially denied the murder charge he unexpectedly changed his plea to guilty yesterday. His co-accused Kristian Harland, 29, who lived in another flat at the hostel, had his guilty plea to manslaughter accepted by the prosecution.

The jury had heard how attempts had been made to cover up the killing by redressing the deceased's severely emaciated body and putting him on a sofa in his own flat to make it look like he died in his sleep.

The court heard Mr Bassra had suffered a brain haemorrhage and multiple rib fractures after being subjected to a prolonged assault.

The day after the killing Ray and Harland were said to have staged the discovery of the deceased's body and Ray was alleged to have given the appearance of a shocked relative.

Ray will have to serve a minimum of 15 years and three months in jail before being considered for release.

Harland, who had previous convictions for violence against a partner, was sentenced to eight years in jail for the manslaughter offence.