A killer who attacked and murdered his “vulnerable” flatmate by beating him to death at the home they shared has been told by a judge he must serve at least 16 years in jail.

Earl Clarke left grandfather-of-three Bradley Hamilton with multiple fractures and a string of other injuries during the fatal attack at the flat in Chuckery, Walsall.

Judge John Warner, sentencing him at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday told Clarke that his 48-year-old flatmate had suffered a “painful death” at his hands.

Sounaynah Morabir, 23, Clarke’s then girlfriend who also shared the Rowley Street flat, was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of assisting an offender.

During the four-week trial, the jury heard that Mr Hamilton’s injuries suggested he was punched, kicked or stamped on.

Judge Warner said Clarke and Morabir were the only two people still alive who knew the full extent of what happened on November 6, 2010, but that a neighbour heard Mr Hamilton cry out “Oh my God”.

He said Clarke had used violence on Mr Hamilton on previous occasions and told him: “I’m satisfied you knew he was afraid of you. You dominated him. I believe he suffered a very painful death at your hands.”

He added that Mr Hamilton had been a “vulnerable” victim and called Clarke “manipulative”.

During the trial Clarke, aged 38, of Batchley Road, Redditch, denied murder and suggested that Mr Hamilton was a chronic alcoholic and they had argued over his drinking.

He admitted punching Mr Hamilton after being allegedly threatened with pepper spray. Morabir, of Wheelwright Road, Erdington, did nothing to help.