A jealous boyfriend has been branded a coward by police and the family of the victim he murdered in a savage frying pan attack.

Bryan Harris was jailed for life for the brutal killing of Paul Drury and told by a judge that it was 'a punishment beating administered to seek revenge'.

Harris, 45, and his girlfriend Dawn Lewis were lodging with 32-year-old Mr Drury at his home in Newton Abbot when Harris battered the other man to death in a 20-minute long attack last November.

a Harris, aged 45, of Valley Path, Newton Abbot denied murder but was found guilty by a jury. He was also found guilty of wounding Miss Lewis with intent to do her grievous bodily harm.

Judge Mr Justice Evans jailed him for life, with a minimum term of 18 years. He was given eight years concurrent on the second charge.

He denied using the frying pan but told the jury he punched and kicked Mr Drury for between 15 and 20 minutes in a one sided fight during which the victim did not land a single blow.