A WREXHAM dad has received a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering a helpless man in a cowardly attack.

Barry John Bagnall, of Caia Park, was found guilty of murdering 60-year-old Terry Edwards by a jury in June.

The 42-year-old, described as a family man, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Monday.

Summarising the evidence, Judge Rhys Rowlands told the court how in May last year Bagnall attended the victim's home and in an "explosive loss of temper" he struck him with a weapon while he lay "helpless" on his bed.

Mr Edwards sustained a catastrophic and unsurvivable brain injury in the attack.

Judge Rowlands said: "You'd known each other for some years, living in the Caia Park area, from your mutual addiction to class A drugs.

"Evidently he was an extremely vulnerable victim."

Bagnall was also found guilty of acts with a tendency to pervert the course of justice, in that he tried to get a witness to lie to the police about a phone he'd taken from the victim's flat.

The court heard Mr Edwards had lent Bagnall £40, something he kept a note of in a book.

Following his death, the relevant page was found in a neighbour's bin.

Judge Rowlands said: "You took steps to cover your traces - showing a high degree of guile and manipulation.

"You went under the pretence of returning to visit the flat, knowing full well that he lay dead.

"You changed your trainers.

"You used cunning and manipulative behaviour which you hoped meant you would escape the responsibility for the murder.

"You're clearly a dangerous and manipulative individual who has shown no remorse whatsoever for the violence inflicted on Mr Edwards.

"Because of the drugs he had taken he'd have been lethargic. It was a cowardly attack on a helpless man in his own bed."

The Judge said when Mr Edwards was murdered he was attempting to get his life back on track; an opportunity Bagnall "robbed him" of.

Bagnall received a life sentence and must serve a minimum of 18 years before being considered for parole, less the 248 days he has already spent in custody leading up to and during his trial.

Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Chris Bell said: "This was a case of cold blooded murder, where the victim was struck twice to the head by forceful blows, and left for dead.

"This has been a long and particularly challenging investigation. I would like to thank the public and witnesses that gave evidence in court.

"I hope today’s sentence will provide solace and some form of closure to Terry’s family and close friends."