A KILLER who lured his victim to a secluded spot before stamping on his head in a violent attack has been jailed for life.

Michael O'Hara, aged 28, was jailed for life at Chester Crown Court on Monday, after pleading guilty to the murder of 31-year-old Gary Kneen.

Mr Kneen died last November, five days after the attack on a footpath next to the railway line, near Marshall Gardens, Bridge Foot.

Judge Elgin Edwards said: "You took Gary Kneen to a deserted and quiet spot where he would be at your mercy.

"It is clear that you showed him no mercy, and the degree of violence was quite appalling.

"Having seen photographs of the damage you did to him, it is difficult to understand how any human being could do that to another."

The court heard that O'Hara and Mr Kneen were residents at hostel James Lee House, but had fallen out.

On November 4, O'Hara decided that he was going to teach Mr Kneen a lesson.

He took him down to the banks of the River Mersey, close to Arpley junction, and attacked him.

O'Hara told police that he hit Mr Kneen very hard on the chin.

Mr Kneen then went down to his knees to defend himself, but O'Hara continued to kick and punch him. He also placed Mr Kneen on his back so that he could get his boot on his face.

The court heard that the drivers of a goods train found Mr Kneen very seriously injured.

O'Hara admitted to the attack when he was arrested.

He said that he had lost count of how many times he had hit Mr Kneen.

He said that he did not start with the intention of killing him, but lost his temper and carried on the attack.

He apologised, and said that he put Mr Kneen in the recovery position following the assault.

David Aubury, defending, said: "Nothing that we can say can compensate for the family's loss, but hope that it is some small comfort that members of the family have not had to agonise in any way as to whether there would be any form of trial in this case."

Mr Kneen was born on the Isle of Man and worked for Manx Airlines before moving to the north west.

He suffered from bouts of depression and was living at James Lee House from October last year.