Life for addict who killed pensioner

Milne's accomplice was killed in the subsequent fire

A drug addict has been jailed for life for beating a pensioner to death with a table leg.

Stephen Milne broke into the house of 66-year-old Jimmy Riggs shortly before Christmas 2001, before tying him up and torturing him to find out where his money was hidden.

Milne fled with £80, but returned with an accomplice later to burn the house and destroy any incriminating evidence.

They doused the house with petrol, but the building exploded when fumes from a gas fire ignited, killing his accomplice, Jamie Kelly.

High on drugs

The jury at Winchester Crown Court heard that Milne, 37, who was addicted to crack cocaine, was high on the drug at the time.

The post-mortem examination revealed Mr Riggs, who had lived in Boscombe for over 30 years, died from the beating and not from the subsequent fire.

His family, who all come from Bournemouth, were too distressed to appear at court.

Milne pleaded guilty to the murder and was jailed for life.