A man has been found guilty of carrying out the brutal killing of one of his drinking buddies after delivering a series of punches, kicks, and stamps to the vulnerable alcoholic’s head.

Kieran Potts rained down the blows on Norman Ryan shortly after he had become involved in a short scuffle with his own father inside the victim’s flat.

The 24-year-old left his victim unconscious and covered in blood before heading to the shop to buy more booze, Teesside Crown Court heard.

A seriously injured Mr Ryan was discovered by the defendant’s father, Carl, after he kicked down the door of his neighbour’s flat after spotting him lying injured on the floor.

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Jurors found the defendant not guilty of murder but he was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

They had heard how Potts became embroiled in a short-lived brawl with his father Carl while they were drinking Mr Ryan’s Hartlepool flat.

Carl Potts and his partner, Samantha Coulson, left shortly afterwards and Kieran followed them out into the street hurling abuse and threats in their wake.

Potts junior returned to the flat of his 55-year-old drinking buddy but was again back in the street boasting that - “I’ve just knocked Norman out now I’m going to get you, you n****’.

The Northern Echo: Troutpool Close, HartlepoolTroutpool Close, Hartlepool (Image: Google)

Mr Ryan suffered bleeding on the brain following a brutal beating in his own flat on August 31, last year, and he died several days later in hospital without regaining consciousness.

Jurors heard how the injuries were consistent with Mr Ryan being punched, kicked, and stamped on.

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Blood from the alleged victim was found on the trainers of the murder suspect, the court heard.

When police arrived at the scene, Mr Potts senior immediately identified his son as the likely suspect as he was very volatile when he was drinking.

CCTV footage showed the defendant heading to the shop to buy a crate of booze just minutes after he had dished out the vicious beating in the flat on Troutpool Close.

Judge Paul Watson KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, remanded Potts, of Moffatt Road, Hartlepool, in custody and told him he will be sentenced next week.