A MAN has been jailed for life for the murder of a holidaymaker in West Cumbria last year.

Michael Sanderson, 30, from Wigton, had denied murdering Terry Taylor at Cockermouth in May 2015.

But Sanderson, of Arkleby Hall Cottages, Arkleby, Wigton, was today convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court.

He will have to serve a minimum of 14 years before he will be eligible for parole.

Mr Taylor, 59, from Oldham, Manchester, was killed on May 31 last year. 

Police were called at 3:03am with a report of a man found injured at the Globe Hotel on Main Street in Cockermouth. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

A murder investigation was subsequently launched and Sanderson was arrested the next day.

After sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Roy Ledingham, who was the senior investigating officer, said: “Terry died as a result of severe trauma to the head caused by a serious and sustained assault, and today Sanderson has been brought before the courts to answer for this terrible crime.

“Terry and his family loved West Cumbria, and would regularly travel from Oldham to stay in their caravan and enjoy the Cumbrian countryside. On Saturday May 30, Terry met up with some friends who form part of a pool league in the area, which included Sanderson. Throughout the day the group were drinking and enjoying themselves across west Cumbria, ending the evening in Cockermouth. Tragically sometime between 1:30am and 2:45am Terry was murdered.

“Nothing will ever bring Terry back to life, however I hope today’s result will provide his family with some closure. Our thoughts remain with them during this difficult time.”