A British sex offender who murdered a gay student will be jailed for life.

Richard Danter, 31, pleaded guilty to the ‘sustained and brutal’ murder of 20-year-old Billy Mankelow in court.

He was ordered to serve a minimum sentence of 15 years and eight months.

It was found that Danter, who identified in court as bisexual, kicked and stamped on Mankelow more than 20 times and left him in a horrific state under a railway arch.

The two had met earlier in the evening at a gay bar, the Viaduct. Mankelow had been there on a night out with colleagues at the call centre he worked at part time while studying social sciences at the University of Leeds. The two then went to the Dark Arches area for a sexual encounter.

When Danter attacked him, kicking and stamping on him, he returned to the bar. After another drink, Danter then went back to the body that he had severely injured and dragged it to a place where it was harder to see. He then stole Mankelow’s phone, passports and other items from his clothing to prevent him from being identified.

Mankelow was found half naked, bleeding heavily from his head by two members of the public. He died in Leeds General Infirmary from major head injuries later that day on 26 April.

As reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, judge Peter Collier said: ‘You subjected him to an unspeakable degree of violence.”

‘I do not accept that you did not know he was still alive. You abandoned him there under those Dark Arches. You went back, you bent down to move him.

‘Others who found him subsequently had no difficulty in immediately realising that he was still alive.’

In court, it was revealed Danter had been jailed for four years after attempting to rape an 18-year-old with learning difficulties.

Mankelow’s family released a statement, reading: ‘Billy loved life and had lots of friends. He was independent and motivated and went to study at Leeds University. Billy loved Leeds, a place where he made a life for himself and had lots of friends.

‘Billy’s family and friends are all distraught at the way Billy died; which was so senseless and unnecessary. Billy was simply out with friends having a good time with his life ahead of him.’

Detective Chief Inspector David Shipperlee, of British Transport Police, said: ‘Danter dragged Billy into an alcove in the railway arch, presumably to conceal his body, and left him for dead.

‘His death is such a tragic waste of a young life, a life taken by a violent, evil and dangerous man, who has a history of previous convictions for violence and sexual offenses, who is now where he belongs – behind bars.’