A violent sexual offender who carried out a “sustained and brutal” attack on a university student before leaving his body under railway arches has been jailed for life.

Richard Danter, 31, was told he must serve a minimum of 15 years and five months in prison over the murder of 20-year-old Kent student Billy Mankelow.

Danter carried out an horrific assault on Mr Mankelow after the pair had gone to the Dark Arches in Leeds city centre for a sexual encounter.

They had met earlier in the evening in the Viaduct bar, a pub popular with the gay community.

Danter kicked and stamped on Mr Mankelow’s head more than 20 times before returning to the Viaduct and telling staff he had attacked someone.

Danter then went back to Mr Mankelow, originally from Tonbridge, as he lay severely injured and dragged his body further into the Dark Arches to prevent anyone from discovering him.

Leeds Crown Court heard Danter then fled after being seen by two members of the public who went to Mr Mankelow’s aid.

They found him half naked and bleeding heavily from his head but he was still breathing.

Emergency services were called and Mr Mankelow was taken to Leeds General Infirmary. He died later that day, April 26 this year, from major head injuries.

The surgeon who dealt with Mr Mankelow said that he had “never before seen such trauma that was completely focused on the head and facial area.”

Police were initially unable to identify Mr Mankelow after it is thought Danter took his mobile phone, passport and other items from his clothing which would reveal who he was.

Tahir Khan, QC, prosecuting, said Danter later admitted to his boyfriend that he had smashed Mr Mankelow’s head against a wall and had jumped up and down on his head as he lay on the ground.

By the time Danter was arrested, he had disposed of the clothes he had been wearing.

Mr Mankelow had moved to West Yorkshire to study social sciences at the University of Leeds.

He had deferred his studies at the time of his death following the death of his mother.

Mr Mankelow was on a night out with work colleagues from a Capita call centre.

Mr Mankelow, described in court as bisexual, had a three-year-old child from a previous relationship but was also attracted to men.

Danter was well known to staff and regulars at the Viaduct and was described as having a “quick temper” and a “promiscuous” lifestyle. He had previously picked up other young men there.

Danter, who previously pleaded guilty to murder, has already served a lengthy prison sentence for robbing another student after meeting him in the Viaduct.

He also has a string of previous convictions from 1998 including indecent assaults and an attempted rape on an 18-year-old with learning difficulties for which he received four years imprisonment.

In 2010 he attacked a Leeds Metropolitan University student after meeting him in the pub and taking him to a secluded spot.

The Recorder of Leeds Peter Collier QC said, “You subjected your victim to an unspeakable degree of violence. The surgeon who dealt with him said that he had never seen so much trauma completely focused on the head and facial area.

“Such was the savageness and brutality of your focused attack on his head, I am driven to conclude that at that moment your intention was to kill him

“You left him where you had assaulted him, helpless and dying, and went back to the nightclub. Later you went back and moved his body further into the arches, no doubt intending to make it more unlikely that he would be discovered.

“You also removed and disposed of his mobile phone, whether or not he would have been capable of calling for help himself I can never know."

Mr Mankelow's family said: “Billy loved life and had lots of friends. He was independent and motivated and went to study at Leeds University in 2013. Billy loved Leeds, a place where he made a life for himself.

“Billy would always make time to come back to Kent in the holidays to spend time with his family.

“His death is such a tragic waste of a young life, a life taken by a violent, evil and dangerous man, who has a history of previous convictions for violence and sexual offences, who is now where he belongs, behind bars." — Det Chf Insp David Shipperlee

“At the time of his death Billy had been working for Capita and had passed his training course and was due to start his new role only two days after his death.

“Billy’s family and friends are all distraught at the way Billy died; which was so senseless and unnecessary. Billy was simply out with friends having a good time with his life ahead of him.

“We as a family will never get over the way he died, we have lost a person of exceptional kindness and good nature.

“Billy’s tragic loss will be felt by everyone who knew him for a long time.”

Det Chf Insp David Shipperlee of British Transport Police’s major investigation team said: “Billy, an innocent, caring and popular young man, died as a result of serious head injuries received during a sustained and what we believe to be, totally unprovoked attack.

"He received more than 20 blows to his head, the majority of which were as a result of being kicked and stamped on.

“After he assaulted him, Danter dragged Billy into an alcove in the railway arch, presumably to conceal his body, and left him for dead.

“His death is such a tragic waste of a young life, a life taken by a violent, evil and dangerous man, who has a history of previous convictions for violence and sexual offences, who is now where he belongs, behind bars.

“Our thoughts are with Billy’s family, whose lives have been turned upside down by Danter’s actions that night.

"No one should have to experience what they are living through right now and I hope that the sentencing today can bring them some comfort in seeking justice for Billy’s tragic death.

“I would like to extend my thanks to the media who initially helped us publicise the assault that quickly provided us with information which helped us identify Billy, and enabling us to inform his family and convey them to his bedside before he sadly died.”