The victim was described by those close to him as a ‘gentle giant’. RIP 💔 Read more👇🏻

Caine Lonsdale has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his friend, Jonathan Dittia, in a shocking and senseless attack inside the victim’s Nottingham flat.

Security footage showed the 34-year-old calmly collecting a pizza with blood-soaked shoes shortly after the fatal assault, while Dittia, 40, lay dying or already dead inside. Lonsdale later told police he had stomped on his friend’s head during what he called a “blur” of violence. A post-mortem revealed Dittia suffered extensive head trauma from kicks, stamps, and possibly blunt force, along with signs of strangulation with a phone charger cable.

The two men were friends and regular drinking companions. Lonsdale, who has a low IQ and a history of alcoholism, committed the attack following an afternoon of drinking. He confessed to his father before calling 999, where he admitted to the killing.

Judge James Sampson described the murder as “merciless and sustained,” highlighting that Dittia—a man with learning difficulties known as a gentle giant—was attacked in his own home, where he should have felt safe. Lonsdale must serve at least 15 years before being eligible for parole.

The case deeply affected Dittia’s family, with his grandmother describing him as having “a heart of gold.” Police called the killing brutal and senseless, expressing hope that the sentence offers some comfort to his loved ones.