A BUILDER from Anerley was jailed for life after beating a friend to death with a claw hammer for mocking his sexual prowess.

Mark Church, aged 27, of Orchard Street, attacked 33-year-old Joseph Cariello in front of his grandparents after a night out in Penge. An Old Bailey jury found Church guilty of murder on July 25 following a four-day trial.

The friends, who had previously fallen out over a break-up between Church and his girlfriend, had another bust-up while drinking in Penge. Mr Cariello returned to his home in Crystal Palace Park Road, where he lived with his elderly and frail grandparents.

Church said he later rang his fellow builder and that Mr Cariello taunted him, bragging he had bedded his ex-girlfriend.

Church told the court: "He said he was the father of my daughter, stuff like that."

After the phone call, Church drove to Mr Cariello's home and lashed out with the hammer, raining blows on his head and neck until he fell to the floor.

Mr Cariello's grandfather then saw him bend down and continue battering his head.

When the elderly man tried to intervene, Church snarled: "Go away or you will get the same."

After the assault, Church called police from a phone box claiming it was a revenge attack and saying: "I have committed ABH or GBH on him." Mr Cariello was rushed to Bromley Hospital but died from his wounds later that night.

Church had denied the charge of murder, claiming he was provoked and distressed.

He said the only memory he had of the incident was striking once with the hammer.

Sentencing him to life behind bars, judge Martin Stephens QC told Church: "This was a dreadful deed, cruel beyond measure.

"You killed a thoroughly decent man."