Man jailed for murdering lingerie boss Anthony Power

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-21790396

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A man has been jailed for life after being found guilty of beating to death the owner of a lingerie firm before taking the keys to his Bentley.

Anthony Power, 78, was found fatally injured in High Hazels Park in Darnall, Sheffield, last October.

Mr Power, who lived in Bradway, near Sheffield, founded and ran the international lingerie firm Panache.

Imran Khan, 30, of Darnall, was sentenced to a minimum of 26 and a half years at Sheffield Crown Court.

Judge Alan Goldsack QC told Khan: "It was a truly awful offence."

In a statement, Mr Power's son John said: "As a family we cannot overemphasise the devastating effect this has had on us.

"We can't bear to think of him in that park being kicked to death.

"The thought of how he sustained his injuries will torture us forever."

During the trial, the court was told grandfather Mr Power was punched and kicked by Khan who then took the keys to his Bentley and went and sat in the car.

'Catastrophic brain damage'

The businessman, who had been married for 52 years, had gone to the park to look for his missing brother Thomas, who suffers from dementia.

When Thomas Power was found, relatives then went looking for Anthony Power, who had not returned.

Simon Waley, prosecuting, told the court he was found by police lying on the ground covered in blood.

He had suffered bleeding and bruising to his brain resulting in "catastrophic brain damage".

Mr Power was taken to hospital but never recovered and his ventilator was turned off more than two weeks later.

The jury was told Khan had been drinking large quantities of vodka and brandy in the park with a friend.

The court heard Khan's clothes were found to be covered in Mr Power's blood.

The judge said: "The extent and ferocity of your attack upon him grew as you were clearly determined to take his property.

"He suffered massive brain damage. If he had survived he would probably have been totally incapacitated."

Det Insp Martin Tate, senior investigating officer in the case, said: "This was a tragic and unnecessary loss of life.

"I'm pleased with today's verdict and that Imran Khan has been held to account for his actions.

"My thoughts remain with Anthony Power's family, who can hopefully take some comfort now that justice has been done."