Man jailed for killing his friend

Mr Fallows had grown up with Jones and Rigby in Stockport

A man who savagely beat to death his lifelong friend in a park using a table leg has been jailed for life.

John Fallows, 32, of Lenham Towers, Brinnington, Greater Manchester, was found dead by a passer-by in Tiveot Dale in Stockport last October.

Martin Jones, 34, of no fixed abode, admitted killing him and was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court.

Melanie Rigby, 34, of Penny Lane in Lancashire Hill, admitted manslaughter and was jailed for six years.

A post-mortem examination concluded that Mr Fallows died from multiple head injuries.

Mr Fallows died from head injuries

Mr Fallows had grown up with Jones and Rigby in Stockport and they all spent a lot of time in each other's company.

The court heard that Jones was married to Mr Fallows' wife's sister, and Jones had assaulted her.

When Mr Fallows heard about the attack he was angry. But when Jones heard that Mr Fallows had been bad-mouthing him to mutual friends, he wanted revenge, the court was told.

Rigby arranged to meet Mr Fallows in Tiveot Dale, luring him to a spot where he would later be attacked by Jones.

Det Ch Insp Linda Reid, of Stockport CID, said: "In my 30 years of policing, rarely have I seen brutality on this scale.

"I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for John's mother and his partner to deal with what has happened, but I can only hope that seeing justice done today will help them in some way to move on."