Man, 52, murdered his dad after pet dog died

Merseyside Police said it hoped Mr Sarwanskyj would "reflect on the devastation he has caused"

A man has been jailed for murdering his father after their relationship "deteriorated" following the death of a pet dog.

Police were called to a house in Braemar Avenue in Southport, Merseyside, in December last year and found the body of 73-year-old Ivan Sarwanskyj.

His son, John David Sarwanskyj, 52, was later charged with his murder and was given a life sentence on Monday after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Merseyside Police said it had been a "truly appalling domestic murder of a vulnerable man in his own home".

Det Ch Inp Alan Nuttall said: "Ivan was described as an elderly, frail old man, who died at the hands of his son in a sustained and abhorrent attack."

The court heard the pair's relationship had suffered after the death of John Sarwanskyj's dog.

Det Ch Insp Nuttall added: "The overwhelming majority of domestic abuse is committed by men against their partners.

"But this case shows in the starkest possible terms that there are many forms of Domestic Abuse and that they can have fatal consequences."

Sarwanskyj was ordered to serve a minimum of 14 years of his life sentence.