Alan Maidment, 40, stabbed his victim 32 times over accusations that he had attacked his girlfriend. A killer who stabbed a man to death before torching his body in his own flat has been jailed for life.
Alan Maidment, 40, knifed Thomas Jones 32 times over accusations he assaulted his ex-girlfriend, at his home in Swinton, Greater Manchester.
After carrying out the brutal murder, he then set his victim’s body alight using pages of an Argos catalogue for kindling.
Maidment, from Salford, was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to a whole life tariff, at Manchester Crown Court, today.
The killer set upon Mr Jones, 47, as he opened the door to his flat, the jury was told.
Maidment then dragged his victim into the living room and stabbed him during a frenzied attack.
To conceal his crime, he placed a number of items on top of Mr Jones’ body and set them on fire, before going out to get fuel.
When he returned to the scene, Maidment sat on a bench opposite the flat and watched as fire crews tackled the blaze.
Ten days later and after while high on a cocktail of cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis, Maidment carried out five knife-point robberies, within a five-minute period.
He then went to a branch of McDonald’s in Chadderton, Oldham, again armed with a knife, and told staff to contact police because he had committed a murder.
Senior investigating officer Duncan Thorpe said: ‘In an appalling attempt to conceal his monstrous attack, Maidment carelessly put further lives in danger by starting a fire at communal flats.
Maidment, from Salford, was found guilty of murder and was handed a whole life tariff in prison, at Manchester Crown Court (pictured), today
‘Alan Maidment is a particularly dangerous individual who was only released from prison on life licence in June 2016, after killing another man.
‘He will now spend the rest of his life behind bars to contemplate his actions.
‘My thoughts are with Thomas’ family and the other victims in this case who now have to deal with the aftermath of Maidment’s violent actions.’
Maidment was also handed a six-year prison sentence after admitting the five knife-point robberies and a further two years for possession of a bladed weapon, to be served concurrently.
