Life for suspect paedophile killer

Partially-sighted George Crawford was beaten to death

A man has been jailed for life after being found guilty of battering a suspected paedophile to death.

George Crawford, 68, was beaten with two ornamental lamps just days before he was due to stand trial on charges of indecency towards young boys.

Martin Goldrick, 41, had denied murdering the partially-sighted pensioner at his home in Kirkholt, Rochdale.

He was said to have told another prisoner while on remand Mr Crawford "deserved to die".

'Double motive'

Mr Crawford was found with multiple head and neck injuries by his wife Brenda on 21 December 2001.

He had been due in court in January on charges stemming from alleged offences in the late 1970s and 80s.

Roderick Carus QC, prosecuting, said Goldrick, a heroin user, was a regular visitor at Mr Crawford's bungalow, and had sometimes asked for and been given money.

Mr Carus claimed Goldrick had acted with a "double motive of a desire to rob him of his possessions and a desire to avenge the fact he had recently been charged with indecency with young boys."

Goldrick claimed he had tried to resuscitate Mr Crawford after calling at his home and finding him injured.

But the jury heard a series of bloody palm prints on a wall in the room matched those of Goldrick.

'Family devastated'

A wallet, mobile phone and some tobacco missing from the house were later traced to Goldrick.

The jury found him guilty after deliberating for eight hours.

After being sentenced by the Recorder of Manchester, Judge Sir Rhys Davies, Goldrick shouted: "It's a miscarriage of justice."

Speaking after the case, Detective Superintendent Kevin Duffy said: "George Crawford knew Goldrick and regarded him as a friend.

"The Crawford family have been left devastated by George's death."