A glazier who beat a drunken cleaner to death, causing injuries similar to those seen in car crashes, was today beginning a life sentence.

Gavin Hodgkinson, 24, of Glebe Road, Didcot, was convicted of murdering Peter Bennett in a brawl outside the Wheatsheaf Pub, Didcot, in the early hours of August 28 last year.

Mr Bennett, 37, a contract cleaner at Didcot Power Station, had been drinking heavily on the evening of August 27 and was almost five times over the drink-drive limit when he died.

He and Hodgkinson had exchanged angry words inside the pub, where Hodgkinson occasionally worked.

The trial at Oxford Crown Court heard Hodgkinson left the pub shortly before midnight, removed his shirt and waited outside for father-of-one Mr Bennett, of Queensway, Didcot.

He then beat him to death using techniques he had learned while training in martial arts.

Marks from the soles of his shoes were left on Mr Bennett's face, neck and arms.

Anthony Larkin, a forensic scientist, told the trial some of the injuries were so severe they were normally only found in victims of car crashes. The victim died from internal bleeding.

Det Insp David McCorkell, of South Oxfordshire CID, said: "It was without doubt a vicious attack.

"Our sympathy today is with Mr Bennett's friends and family. I hope they will draw some comfort from the fact that justice has been done.

"The victim was under the influence of alcohol and, from what witnesses tell me, he didn't pose a threat to anyone other than perhaps himself. He was certainly not in any state that he could defend himself."

When Hodgkinson was arrested there was blood on his hands and trousers. He denied murder and told police he had only acted in self-defence.

Hodgkinson told the court the traumatic break-up with his girlfriend Melanie Sear propelled him into a cycle of depression and drug abuse which culminated at the end of the August Bank Holiday with the beating of Mr Bennett.

He said he had drunk 16 pints of lager and five Jack Daniels and coke on August 27 to help him recover from amphetamines taken the previous day.

The prosecution asked for two charges to lie on file. Hodgkinson was alleged to have wounded Mario Paul on August 25, just days before murdering Mr Bennett.

He had also been charged with assaulting his former girlfriend on July 23.

Sentencing Hodgkinson to life, Judge Peter Crawford QC said: "This is a tragic case. Until a year ago you were a person of good character who, so far as one can tell, lived a decent and proper life.

"You turned to drinking, your drinking became excessive and in August you gave vent to extreme violence."