by Keith Hunt

A drunken man who battered a grandfather in poor health to death with a mallet in his home has been jailed for 10 years.

Thomas McConnell was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter by reason of provocation.

Judge Andrew Patience QC told the 36-year-old it was an aggravating feature that he did not tell police where victim Ted Worton lay grievously injured for an hour and a half.

"Had you said at once where he was help might have got to him sooner," he said. "As we know sadly, even if it had it is almost certain he would not have survived.

"But you were not to know that. Your failure to mention it showed a callous regard when you realised what you had done."

Maidstone Crown Court heard that former miner Mr Worton, 52, had on March 15 invited friends to lunch at his flat at Birch Court, Hillbrow Road, Ramsgate. He drank beer and smoked cannabis.

McConnell, an alcoholic, visited various pubs in the town and at about 7pm went to Mr Worton’s flat to find a friend.

He joined Mr Worton and others who were drinking and smoking cannabis. After the others left, the door was locked.

At about 8.50pm, Mr Worton rang his nephew David Lawrence and his partner Sarah Higgins answered.

Mr Worton, who grew up in Hersden, near Canterbury and went to Sturry Secondary School, said of his nephew: "I need him down here. He is going to do me. He is taking the mickey out of me."

Prosecutor Cairns Nelson told the jury of seven women and five men that Mr Worton was beaten unconscious soon after the call.

Mr Lawrence went to the flat but left after there was no answer.

Mr Nelson said Mr Worton was "the victim of a surprise, unprovoked, gratuitous attack out of nowhere".

After striking the victim least five times with the rubber mallet kept down the side of the sofa at the flat, McConnell jumped out of the first floor window, breaking his ankle.

Bleeding from a head wound, he went a nearby pub and claimed he had been attacked in the street by a stranger.

Mr Worton was taken the QEQM Hospital in Margate but died a few hours later.

McConnell, of Hugin Avenue, Broadstairs, denied murder and manslaughter, claiming he acted in self-defence.