A man who battered a five-year-old boy to death in a park for losing a trainer has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years.

Marvyn Iheanacho, 39, flew into a rage and subjected his girlfriend's son, Alex Malcolm, to a brutal attack in Mountsfield Park in Catford, south-east London.

He was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court by Judge Mark Dennis QC, who said the child killer has a "deeply entrenched character flaw" that leads him to overreact and lose his temper.

Iheanacho, who was convicted of murder, was sentenced to 18 years but, due to time served on remand, the judge said he would serve at least 17 years and 119 days.

Witnesses heard a child's fearful voice saying "sorry", loud banging and a man screaming about the loss of a shoe.

Alex suffered fatal head and stomach injuries and died in hospital two days later. One of his trainers was later found in the play area by police.

Iheanacho, who was in a relationship with Alex's mother Lilya Breha, had a "wholly and unnecessary loss of temper", Judge Dennis said.

"The red mist having come down upon you when you discovered that Alex had dropped his shoe," he said.