Man guilty after killing victim with hammer

Police said Francis Reilly - a father, grandfather, brother and uncle - was loved by his family

A man who attacked his victim with a hammer after being confronted about an unpaid debt has been convicted of manslaughter.

Francis Reilly, known as Frankie, was killed in Ingrave Road in Brentwood, Essex, on 12 September last year.

The 63-year-old had gone to John Moore's home to remonstrate with him over an unpaid debt, when the defendant launched the attack.

Moore, 39, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Basildon Crown Court on Monday.

He had been on trial in August accused of murder, but he claimed he acted in self-defence, and jurors failed to reach a verdict after 14 hours of deliberation.

A retrial had been scheduled for January, but prosecutors eventually accepted his manslaughter plea.

John Moore continued to attack his victim outside his home in Ingrave Road

Police said Moore beat Mr Reilly with a hammer and threw him against a wall, causing injuries which proved fatal.

Mr Reilly fled the flat but Moore followed him and continued the assault outside which was witnessed by a taxi driver, who flagged down two patrolling police officers.

The victim died at the scene and police said Moore was "swiftly" arrested. He is expected to be sentenced on Friday.

Det Insp Lisa Hurrell said the force has continued to support Mr Reilly's family.

"He was a father, brother, grandfather and uncle, and all who loved him have felt unimaginable loss," she said.

"Mr Reilly was killed in an utterly senseless act of violence.

"Moore was a drug user who regularly accrued debts with friends and acquaintances to feed his habit."