A ‘nasty bully’ who bludgeoned his vulnerable college caretaker friend to death with a baseball bat has been jailed for life.

Glen Mould, 36, struck his victim at least 40 times in a brutal and prolonged attack over a petty row about motorbike insurance before he went on the run from police, Preston Crown Court heard.

Mould, formerly of Rishton, had also physically abused Dominic Bibby, 31, in the weeks leading up to his death at his home in Blackburn last December.

It is understood the defendant had been picked on all his life over his facial deformity and the jibes had turned him into a bully.

He was jailed in 2002 for three years for committing an assault said to have been carried out with a broom handle. Mould pleaded guilty to murder on the eve of his trial on Monday.

Sentencing him to a minimum of 16 years in jail, the Recorder of Preston Judge Anthony Russell QC told Mould: "It seems to me that all the evidence points to you being a nasty and persistent bully. You are also a coward as your subsequent behaviour revealed.

"Dominic Bibby was a friend to you and you became his lodger but you abused that friendship by assaulting him and there is, in my judgment, compelling evidence that you not only assaulted him on that night but had done so on other occasions.

"Mr Bibby was often seen to be bruised and walking badly in the weeks before his death. Those who inquired about him were told unconvincing lies by you that he had fallen or had an accident.

"This was a particularly brutal attack in which you chose a victim who was vulnerable and you had subjected to bullying and probably violence in the past."

Mr Bibby - who had worked at Blackburn College - died at his home in Delph Close after suffering multiple injuries to his head and body, together with extensive bleeding.

His co-defendant Terence Swallow, 37, of Walton Street, Altham, was jailed for 16 months after he admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He went on the run with Mould before they were tracked down at a guest house in Blackpool six days after the murder on December 18.

Dennis Watson QC, prosecuting, said the victim and defendant had been friends and next door neighbours. Mr Bibby was kind enough to offer Mould a roof over his head when he returned to the area after moving away, he said.

"Not long after he moved in as his lodger he began to assault Mr Bibby on a regular basis where he regularly hit him with his fists causing bruising to the face and body," he said.

"On several occasions Mould would use a baseball bat on his arms and legs."

He said Mould’s mounting resentment over a dispute about the household bills culminated in the murderous attack after he discovered Mr Bibby had stopped paying the defendant’s motorbike insurance from his bank account without telling him.

Mr Watson said: "He knocked him to the floor with a headbutt and then struck him repeatedly about the body with a baseball bat. The blows were delivered at different intervals before Mr Bibby dragged himself out of the living room to clean himself up. Having done so, it was not long after that he collapsed and died from his injuries."

Peter Wright QC, defending Mould, said his client continued to deny there had been a history of physical abuse towards Mr Bibby.

He added: "He accepts he entirely lost his self-control and is responsible for causing the most appalling injuries.

"He remains ashamed of what he did and is genuinely contrite and remorseful for it."

In a short statement issued at court, Mr Bibby’s family said: "Dominic is going to be very sorely missed by all his family. He was a fantastic lad and very hard-working.

"Whatever the sentence given today it will not bring Dominic back."

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Howarth said: "No prison sentence will ever bring back Mr Bibby. The level of violence used by Mould was beyond the pale and he inflicted Dominic to the most horrific attack.

"Glen Mould is a brutal bully who took advantage of his victim. He will now have to serve a very long time in prison and reflect on his actions."