A gay escort who butchered a Bushey antique dealer with knives and a hammer has been sentenced to life in prison.

Michael Brennan was told he would serve a minimum of 22 years at his sentencing today for murdering Paul Simons in an Essex flat earlier this year.

During a trial, a jury heard the 54-year-old, of Prospect Close, was lured to the flat in Chelmsford by Brennan where he was attacked and killed.

The 23-year-old escort denied murder saying he attacked Mr Simons after he attempted to perform an extreme sex act on him.

However a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court convicted him of murder by a majority verdict earlier this week.