'Brutal' murderer of fiancée's stepdad jailed

A man who "brutally" beat his fiancée's stepfather to death while high on drink and drugs has been jailed for at least 19 and a half years.

Ian Black, 42, denied murdering Christopher Henderson, 55, in July last year but changed his plea part-way through his trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

Mr Henderson died in hospital 13 days after the assault and a fortnight after the birth of his son, with his family saying his death had left a void in their lives that could never be filled.

Jailing Black for life with a minimum term, Recorder Paul Sloan said the killer had deliberately, repeatedly stamped on the victim's head after he had been knocked unconscious.

Black, of Havelock Terrace in Gateshead, punched and kicked Mr Henderson while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine in a corridor outside the victim's flat in Bensham on 16 July.

He had gone to Mr Henderson's home in Regent Court to borrow money and take cocaine, having been drinking during the day, the court was told.

The trial heard that at some point Mr Henderson told his stepdaughter he had been informed that Black had cheated on her with another woman in a hospital toilet.

After initially leaving, Black returned and confronted Mr Henderson, who was "vulnerable" through his consumption of alcohol and crack cocaine.

The subsequent attack was caught on CCTV, with Black, a trained boxer, seen to rain down blows even after Mr Henderson had been knocked unconscious with the first punch.

Over a four-minute period, Black kicked and stamped on Mr Henderson's head 18 times, pausing between attacks to go through the victim's pockets and vandalise his flat, the court heard.

The judge said the attack was "vicious, brutal, and protracted" and Black's actions were "calculated and considered", adding Mr Henderson was utterly at Black's mercy with no chance of defending himself.

Black then left Mr Henderson "for dead", the judge said, with the victim having suffered multiple broken bones in his face, a fractured skull and "catastrophic brain injuries" from which there was no hope of recovery.

He was declared dead at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle in the early hours of 29 July.

In a statement read to the court, Mr Henderson's sister Karen said he had had a traumatic childhood after they were abandoned by their mother, but had grown into a "kind" and "loving" man who was adored by his nieces and nephews.

She said he was "handsome" with a "cheeky smile" and he was "always surrounded by a ring of girls".

Mr Henderson's sister said he was an "extremely talented" artist and dancer but never boasted about his skills.

Vicky Elliott, Mr Henderson's partner of 15 years and mother of his four children, said he was "loved" by all of her family and was like a father to her two children from a previous relationship.

She said their youngest son was born just 12 days before Mr Henderson's death and it was heartbreaking he would never know his father.

Recorder Sloan said "hot-headed" Black had a "long history of angry, aggressive and violent" behaviour, including breaking his brother's ribs in 2005.

He said Black knew the impact taking drugs and excessive drinking had on his ability to "keep his temper in check", but still chose to do it.

Black was jailed for a further six months having admitted possessing amphetamine with intent to supply.

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