Murderer jailed for homophobic attack in home

Jamie Gawler's body was found on 18 January in his home

A man has been jailed for life for murdering a man in a homophobic attack in his home, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

Jamie Gawler, 54, whose body was found in Hereford on 18 January, had been subjected to a serious assault and further violence over days, with killer Matthew Jonathan using his mobile phone and bank cards.

Video and photo evidence captured by the 39-year-old showed Mr Gawler gravely injured as Jonathan tortured and directed homophobic abuse at him.

At Worcester Crown Court on Friday, Jonathan, of no fixed abode, who admitted murder, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 31 years.

Mr Gawler had become friendly with Jonathan who he had met a month before, the CPS said.

He had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, neck and chest when his body was discovered.

Once Jonathan knew Mr Gawler was dead, he fled the area and on 18 January boarded a train for Cardiff with a friend before getting off at Porth.

Matthew Jonathan was sentenced to life in prison

The victim was last seen, on CCTV, after midnight on 12 January, buying items at a garage. By that evening, he had been subjected to the serious assault.

West Mercia Police said that on 18 January Mr Gawler's brother called his mobile phone which was answered by a police officer, who told him the phone had been found by police that day at Porth railway station.

Concerned for Mr Gawler's welfare, the relative went to the Brierley Court flat in Hereford and found him dead, the force added.

In a family statement released by police, they said they were "glad that some justice has been achieved".

The statement said: "The last eight months have been extremely traumatic for our family as we try, in our own way, to process the loss of Jamie, our son, brother, uncle and friend to many.

"Jamie will be forever in our hearts and remembered as the kind, funny and gentle man that he was."