Man guilty of paedophile's murder

Arnold Hartley had been beaten to death in his home

A man has been found guilty of breaking into a convicted paedophile's home and beating him to death.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Adrian Brown forced his into 73-year-old Arnold Hartley's house in a drink-fuelled rage in November 2003.

Mr Hartley, from Redcar, Teesside, was jailed in 2001 for a series of sex attacks on young children.

Brown, 42, of High Street, Redcar, had denied murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that even as a friend tried to drag the defendant away, he continued to stamp on Mr Hartley's head, shouting: "He deserved it. He's a paedophile. He deserves everything he gets."

The court was also told that after Mr Hartley's release from prison he returned to his home in Queen Street, Redcar, and was subjected to a hate campaign, which included bricks being put through his windows.

At the time of his death his front windows were boarded up.

Brown was due to be sentenced later on Wednesday.