Man jailed for life after murdering 'gentle giant'

A man who ordered a pizza after murdering his friend and stamping on his head in a "merciless and sustained attack" has been jailed for life.

Jonathan Dittia, described by family as a "gentle giant", suffered 63 separate injuries when he was attacked by Caine Lonsdale, who had visited him at his home in Eddleston Drive, Clifton, Nottingham.

Lonsdale, 34, admitted murder and was sentenced to at least 14 years and 149 days in prison at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

The victim's sister, Claire Dittia, said: "To be murdered by someone who Jonathan trusted and knew is just horrendous."

The court heard the victim - who had learning difficulties but was able to live independently - and the defendant were friends who regularly went out drinking together, though one of Mr Dittia's neighbours had concerns about Lonsdale.

A neighbour heard "banging noises" from inside the victim's flat at about 17:20 BST on 17 September.

Addressing Lonsdale, of Lerwick Close in Clifton, Judge James Sampson said: "I have no doubt that was you killing him."

At about 19:25 Lonsdale was seen on CCTV collecting a pizza he had ordered, with the shoe on his right foot seen to be "heavily bloodstained".

The defendant - who the court heard has "a longstanding addiction to alcohol" - later told his father he had attacked a friend and after being urged to contact the authorities, police were called at about 20:30.

Mr Dittia was pronounced deceased at 20:51, with a post-mortem examination finding a cause of death to be "multiple blunt trauma injuries, principally to the deceased's head".

As well as the injuries consistent with kicking and stamping, a ligature wound was found around Mr Dittia's neck, which the court heard was likely caused by a phone charger.

In victim impact statements read out to court, Mr Dittia's family and friends called him "a gentle giant" who "wouldn't hurt a fly", and described the pain his death had caused them.

His sister Claire Dittia, who read out her statement in court, said Lonsdale had "exploited" her brother's vulnerabilities and said the family had not been able to say a proper goodbye due to the injuries he had suffered.

"We as a family are angry that someone would do this to him," she said.

"To be murdered by someone who Jonathan trusted and knew is just horrendous."

Judge Sampson said Lonsdale "failed to summon any help for Mr Dittia" after the attack for more than an hour, adding it was "clear that you repeatedly kicked [him] to the head".

"The reason for this merciless and sustained attack on this defenceless man must lie with your murderous personality," he said.

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