Cowley assembly line worker Graeme Faulkner was today behind bars starting a 12-year sentence for his part in the killing of mayor's son Christopher Butt.

Victim: Christopher ButtPassing sentence at Isleworth Crown Court in west London on Friday, Mr Justice Bell said Faulkner had "encouraged" his friend Martin Cooper to strangle fellow BMW employee Mr Butt with a belt and electrical flex.

They stole his Visa card and travelled around the south east before catching a ferry to Europe where they continue to use the card to withdraw money to buy drugs.

They were arrested at Dover Hoverport 11 days after the murder.

A jury had found Faulkner, 28, of Banbury Road, Oxford, guilty of manslaughter and robbery at a hearing in June this year, but cleared him of murder.

His sentence was delayed until the completion of Cooper's retrial after a previous jury failed to reach a verdict.

Cooper, 30, was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of murder on Thursday.

Barrister Oliver Saxby, defending, said Faulkner had "let himself go by using drink and drugs".

But the court heard he had made good progress, kicking his drug habit in jail, and had helped save the life of a prisoner who had tried to hang himself.

Mr Justice Bell said he had no doubt the killing was premeditated and that the killers had "shown no remorse".

He told Faulkner: "The main object of the robbery was you wanted Mr Butt's card and PIN number to get cash for your drug habits.

"Martin Cooper strangled Mr Butt with a belt and flex he found in the room.

"He may have intended to kill him after he disclosed the PIN number in order to avoid you both being identified.

"But after some reflection overnight, I have come to the conclusion that he must have planned some serious injury as a final threat to make sure the PIN number already given was true."