A JOBLESS drug addict was today jailed for life for trying to kill a disabled neighbour described as "gentle, kind and helpful" by fellow villagers.

The 66-year-old animal lover was tortured in his home and left for dead by intruder Glyn Sullivan in what prosecutors described as a savage attack last year.

Diabetic pensioner Harry Campbell was beaten with an iron - which broke in half - clubbed with his walking stick, choked with a pyjama cord and repeatedly knifed.

Sullivan, who was lodging with Mr Campbell's gardener at the time, told police that he had been nowhere near the scene and was smoking heroin with friends.

The Northern Echo: Harry Campbell in his Boosbeck home
VICTIM: Harry Campbell

Ironically, he even boasted that forensic evidence would clear him of inflicting more than 60 injuries - including brain damage - on the battered victim.

But blood on his trainers - which he had tried to clean - and on his watch, as well as footprints at the east Cleveland flat proved he was lying to cops.

The out-of-work chef, 41, even protested from the court dock as Mr Campbell finished giving his evidence, and said he was unable to recognise him.

He clapped and shouted "I told you so", and continued despite warnings from the judge with: "I said from day one that I had nothing to do with this."

The jury of seven women and four men at Teesside Crown Court took just 90 minutes to find Sullivan guilty of attempted murder on a unanimous verdict.

Days earlier as he gave evidence, Sullivan argued with prosecutor Paul Reid and the judge, and told the jury: "You all know I'll be going home soon."

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, branded him "thoroughly dangerous and highly volatile" and said: "Throughout the trial, you were angry and verbally violent.

"Your postulation to Mr Campbell as he left court having given evidence that you were sorry for what happened to him was utterly hypocritical and dishonest.

"The extent and nature of the injuries result in the finding that the attack must have persisted for quite some time, after which you ransacked the house.

"When you went into his home you believed he had valuable property . . . you used a knife as an instrument of torture to extricate from him the whereabouts.

"You left him for dead. You treated him with utter contempt. As you said to the police in your interview, quote 'you odd not give a s*** about him'.

"You were completely indifferent as to whether he was alive or dead. You had no compunction on leaving him in the state he was. He could well have died."

The judge added: "I have concluded that you are dangerous given the degree of violence, the use of weapons, and having observed you during your trial.

"You thought nothing of being aggressive, rude and contemptuous, and set out to intimidate the jury, addressing them quite voluntarily from the witness box."

Sullivan, who will have to serve a minimum of 11 years, will be freed only when the Parole Board considers he is no longer a danger to the public.

VICTIM Harry Campbell has made quite a "remarkable" recovery from the savage torture ordeal which could easily have led to his death, the court heard.

The pensioner suffers from memory loss and is still receiving physiotherapy nine months after he was brutally beaten and left for dead in his home.

He still has metal plates in his right jaw, chin and left eye-socket, prosecutor Paul Reid told Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, at Teesside Crown Court.

"There is continued improvement, I'm glad to say," said Mr Reid, as the brave victim listened in the public gallery. "He has made a quite remarkable recovery."

Judge Bourne-Arton said: "They were at the time life-threatening injuries. They were graphically set out in the photographs I and the jury saw.

"He was in poor health and he was, and remains, a respected member of his local community. His loves were, seemingly, his dogs and his parrots."

The detective who led the investigation said today: "“The sentence reflects the extremely serious nature of the attack which Mr Campbell endured.

Detective Inspector Matt Murphy-King, said: “Glyn Sullivan’s actions were despicable and no human being should be forced to suffer such a horrendous attack. 

“As you would expect, the attack has had a profound impact on Mr Campbell’s life, and he is slowly recovering from the physical and mental scars. 

“I hope that the fact that Sullivan has been brought to justice for this crime provides Mr Campbell with some peace of mind, and hopefully he can now put this terrible experience behind him. 

“The investigation left no stone unturned and led to the successful prosecution. Sullivan has a very long time to contemplate his actions, behind bars, where he belongs.”

Nicholas Lumley, QC, defending, said: "We are pleased to hear Mr Campbell has made a good recovery.  That's a matter of god luck rather than good judgement."

Judge Bourne-Arton told Sullivan: "There is a significant risk of you committing serious offences of violence to members of the public in the future.

"There is no certainty when that level of dangerousness will subside. That will be a matter for the Parole Board. This is an exceptional case."