Barnes, 27, of Shelby Road, Durrington, was sentenced to a minimum term of 15 years by Judge David Rennie at Hove Crown Court this afternoon (Tuesday, July 22, 2008), minutes after a jury unanimously found him guilty.

The defendant set fire to his friend John Maynard after beating him up so badly that his skull was fractured in six places and he suffered permanent brain damage.

Barnes then left Mr Maynard for dead at the victim's flat in Pier Road, Littlehampton, with injuries so serious he needed to have both legs amputated below the knee, along with three fingers from his left hand, the court heard.

Judge Rennie described Barnes' crime as "an act of unspeakable savagery and ruthless betrayal".

He added: "Long after you come out of prison, and that will not be for a very long time, he will continue to suffer in a way that is almost unimaginable to the rest of us. That is the real tragey and the real wickedness of what you did."

For the full story see this week's Littlehampton Gazette, on sale on Thursday.

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