Marty Bates has been jailed for murdering John Littlewood in his own home
A MAN who bludgeoned his friend to death with a hammer in a 'gratuitous' violent attack following a drunken row has been jailed for life.
Marty Bates carried out the 'vicious and callous” murder before carrying on like normal in the following days.
The 31-year-old let himself into the John Littlewood's Blackhall Colliery home in the early hours of July 26, 2019, before launching the fatal and sustained attack on his prone victim.
Today, he appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced for the brutal murder.
The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Paul Watson QC, told Bates 'whatever he did to upset you' didn't warrant the level of violence he inflicted on him in brutal, ferocious and sustained attack'.