A ‘CALLOUS’ murderer who left his defenceless victim to die has been jailed for life.


Christopher Singleton’s ‘pre-meditated’ attack on Raich Keith Alcock in his Accrington home was slammed as ‘cowardly’ by Judge Mark Brown.


Mr Alcock, who was punched three times and left semi-conscious on his kitchen floor, died 10 days later.


After the trial at Preston Crown Court detectives thanked residents and medical staff for their support during the ‘complex investigation’.


Det Insp Tim McDermott said it was only because of hospital staff and tip-offs from the public that officers knew a crime had been committed.

He said: “This was a complex investigation in which initially it was unclear if any criminal offence had taken place.


“Through the assistance of medical staff at Royal Blackburn Hospital, information from the community and enquiries made by officers, it became clear Mr Alcock had in fact been attacked.

MORE TOP STORIES:


“Singleton showed complete disregard for Mr Alcock’s welfare and inflicted injuries which were to prove fatal.”

Singleton, 37, of Derby Street, Accrington was sentenced to life behind bars and told he must serve a minimum of 16 years in prison.


In an emotional tribute read to the court, the victim’s brother Andrew Alcock, said: “Raich wasn’t a violent or aggressive person, in fact he was weak and helpless.


“Raich was the youngest child of three. He struggled academically and was bullied at school. We didn’t know this until he became an adult. He was always vulnerable. He was not diagnosed but we believe he was on the autistic spectrum.”


Delivering his sentence, Judge Brown said he failed to ‘detect any remorse’ in the defendant.


He said: “This was a callous and brutal assault on a defenceless man in his own home.


“It is suggested you are remorseful for Mr Alcock’s death. But during the trial I have not detected any remorse at all.


“It must be understood that human life cannot be restored nor can its loss ever be measured by a sentence of the court.


“Raich Alcock was in the middle years of life.


“I have no doubt he would have looked forward to many years ahead of him.


“You have robbed him of that life.


“You have also robbed his family of the love and compassion he would have given to them.”


The court heard recovering alcoholic Mr Alcock, who mixed with other substance abusers and homeless people, had ‘fallen off the wagon’, when he suffered a fractured skull and bleed on the brain at Singleton’s hands.


The attack on September 5 was said to have followed a row over who had drunk the last of the victim’s cans of lager.


Mr Alcock was taken to Royal Preston Hospital for treatment but died 10 days later on his 52nd birthday, clutching a photograph of his mother and father.


Prosecutor Gordon Cole told the jury how the victim had been drinking with friends in Accrington town centre hours before Singleton delivered his fatal blows.


The jury heard how following their initial argument outside Accrington Town Hall, Mr Alcock walked off towards The Broadway pub but was followed by his killer.


In the pub carpark witnesses saw the victim give Singleton £20, a bank card and mobile phone in an effort to defuse the situation.


At that point Mr Alcock walked half a mile back to his his flat in Arnold Street but was followed by Singleton.


When Mr Alcock went to unlock the door he was tapped on the shoulder by Singleton who proceeded to punch him in the face.


The jury was told Mr Alcock fell back, banged his head, went into a semi-conscious state and began snoring.


Singleton instructed a second man John McCabe, also known as Burnley John, to help him carry the victim into the kitchen.


With his victim slumped on the floor, Singleton was said to have interpreted the snoring noise as Mr Alcock laughing at him. He then proceeded to twice pick him up by his collar and punch him in the face.


He was pulled out of the house by a teenage girl but left the flat with Mr Alcock’s phone.


Singleton failed to ring an ambulance, despite being told to do so by the teenage witness, and it was only the following day the victim was found by his friend Peter Cornish.


Following Mr Alcock’s death Singleton, who denied murder, continued to use his mobile phone to text his partner and even pretended to be the victim when his landlord called raising concerns about the incident at the flat.


DI McDermott said: “We welcome the conviction.


“I would particularly like to thank Mr Alcock’s family for the dignified way they have conducted themselves throughout the trial and thank the witnesses in the case, who have showed great character in giving their evidence in the face of the defendant’s total refusal to accept responsibility.”