THE evil brute who battered an old soldier to death with his own walking stick in his Worcester flat has been jailed for life.

Convicted conman Martin Rauwley befriended 63-year-old Alexander "Sandy" Clark but stole medals from his cabinet and tricked him out of cash.

When Mr Clark challenged him, Rauwley battered him with the walking stick so hard it snapped - and then stabbed him in the neck with the broken end.

He had tried desperately to defend himself, Worcester Crown Court heard.

The court was told Mr Clark complained to police about the theft two days before the fatal attack.

Officers advised him not to let the 38-year-old back into his Arboretum flat. But on Monday, March 4, the killer returned and subjected the victim to "a merciless attack", said Julia Macur QC, prosecuting.

Disabled Mr Clark, twice div-orced, was found dead by his second ex-wife with multiple injuries.

Rauwley, a drinker who gambled and took drugs, was caught on CCTV walking away from the victim's sheltered accommodation in Sansome Fields House, Southfield Street.

He was carrying Mr Clark's blood-splattered walking stick in a bag. Part of the stick was sticking out. Police found it dumped in a wheelie-bin.

For months, the 38-year-old denied he was the killer, but yesterday in court he dramatically changed his plea.

Rauwley, of Willow Court, Stanley Road, admitted murder and the theft of two medals, three coins and a compass.

Sentencing him to life imprisonment, Judge Michael Mott said it was "an evil day" when Mr Clark had the misfortune to meet his killer. He had been introduced by Rauwley's girlfriend, Michelle Wealthall.

A "quarrel ended in brutal murder", he said.

Mr Clark was described in court as a friendly, kind and generous man who suffered from Parkinson's Disease, a heart complaint and degeneration of the spine.

Rauwley, who was arrested the day after the murder, took advantage of Mr Clark - a soldier for 22 years - to get money from him, promising to buy military memor-abilia on his behalf.

He claimed Mr Clark hit him twice with his stick when he called to tell him he did not want the police involved in the alleged theft.

He was "not aware" of what exactly happened afterwards.

Martin Wilson QC, defending, said Rauwley told police: "I didn't want to believe that I'd done it.

"I never meant to hurt him."

The killing had left him distraught and he had tried to commit suicide three weeks ago while in jail on remand.

Mr Wilson said it was a rare event for anyone to plead guilty to murder.

"This plainly was a spontaneous attack," he said.

"He reacted with great violence but it was not premeditated."