A man has been jailed for life after murdering a neighbour who him called a 'nonce'.
Sheffield Crown Court heard that Andrew Hague, 31, used a bag of Pokemon cards as a makeshift weapon and struck his neighbour Simon Wilkinson, 50, around his head and face outside his flat, reports Yorkshire Live.
Hague walked away but returned to continue on attacking Mr Wilkinson, with a piece of wood and beat him his head, cuasing catastrophic injuries and Mr Wilkinson died at the scene.
Hague, got into a dispute after Mr Wilkinson called him a 'nonce b*****d" in August, 2022, the court heard.
Neighbours witnessed the attack outside the flat in Sheffield described hearing a loud crash and then heard Hague shouting: "You called me a f****** nonce.
"Come out here and fight like a man."
Hague attacked Mr Wlkinson using the bag that appeared to contain something heavy, and it was was discovered to contain boxes of Pokemon cards.
The court was told Hague had previous violent convictions, and a history of mental health issues.
Earlier in the year he pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Wilkinson.
Hague told police after he was arrested that, after the initial attack, he had 'felt bad' and returned to the scene to try to end his life.
Judge Sarah Wright said that he thought this to be an "act of mercy" in his 'deluded state'.
The judge described the incident as "ferocious and brutal" and said it had been carried out with a makeshift weapon following 'some provocation' by Mr Wilkinson who had called Hague a 'nonce'.
She sentenced the murderer to a life sentence, with a minimum term of 17 years, and recommended that he be readmitted to Rampton secure hospital where he has been undergoing treatment.
However, the court was told that Hague's mental illness was not severe enough to be considered for diminished responsibility or insanity.
The judge noted that Hague had a history of contact with mental health services and had not been taking his medication but was 'self-medicating' with cannabis and alcohol.
She noted that this was a 'stark reminder' of the dangers of cannabis use.
Friends and family described Wlkinson as a "friendly and funny" man who had a daughter who has just turned 18, and said the death had caused 'immense pain' and an 'incalculable loss'.
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