VICTIM Patrick Butler was a petty criminal and drug taker who was used by more serious criminals, the court heard.

He also conned his family into providing hundreds of pounds' worth of top-ups for illegally-held mobile phones in Risley - apparently to pass on to other inmates.

A statement from his aunt, Iris Lees, said Butler was born in 1964 in Wolverhampton.

"On many occasions I have seen him turn up outside my house in a top-of-the-range sports car," she said in the statement. "Nothing was beyond Patrick when it came to stealing cars."

It continued: "I would say he has spent about 20 years in prison. He was never out of prison for more than three or four months."

When he was killed, Butler was serving four years for burglary. His aunt said she knew he was using heroin while in Risley.

She said: "About six months ago, he started ringing from a mobile number while in prison. At this time, I was unaware that prisoners weren't allowed mobiles."

Two months before his death, she started refusing to buy them because she couldn't afford it.

Only at the funeral did all the family members realise they had been getting the cards - around £200-worth a week.