The judge at Nottingham Crown Court informed Andrew Thorpe that he would have to serve a minimum of 34 years before being eligible for parole.

After a nearly three-week trial last month, it took the jury over eight hours to unanimously find the 38 year old guilty of murdering Jonathan Thornton. Thornton was attacked in the prison's shower block while Thorpe was on remand for attempting to kill Declan Hales by repeatedly stabbing him a month prior.

In addition to Mr Hales, who attended every day of the trial with family and friends, seven members of the jury who convicted Thorpe returned this week, Thursday, May 8, to hear his sentence. Judge Nirmal Shant KC, upon sentencing him, stated: "You have changed the lives of families forever and the effects of what you committed are clearly going to be long-lasting.

"You will never be released until you are deemed safe to be released."

The court heard how, following what the prosecution termed a "vicious attack," Mr Thornton was discovered lifeless on the floor and never regained consciousness before passing away two weeks later. Mr Hales survived the earlier assault despite suffering multiple stab wounds, reports Nottinghamshire Live.

Prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC, detailed the first incident which took place in Wheatcroft Drive, Edwalton, in the early hours of Wednesday, May 29, last year. She explained that Thorpe, from St Ann's, was with the victim's ex-partner, who he had feelings for, and Mr Hales was texting her which the prosecution claimed sparked jealousy in the defendant.

She revealed an agreement had been made for the victim to purchase cocaine from the defendant who armed himself and hailed a taxi to the address dressed entirely in black and wearing a balaclava.

The prosecutor stated: "The moment Mr Hales opened his front door the defendant attacked him with a large knife, he stabbed him firstly in the head and as Mr Hales tried to defend himself the defendant stabbed him again, and again. He was stabbed in the neck, and shoulder, and also suffered defensive injuries as he put his arms up to defend himself.

"Mr Hales managed to run out of his house and into his neighbours. The defendant chased after him, still trying to stab him and Mr Hayles tried to grab a knife from the kitchen to fend off his attacker, but he was losing too much blood. Thankfully the defendant left, leaving Mr Hales bleeding out."

Ms Heeley said after being arrested and remanded for that matter, Thorpe, of Alfred Street North, was in B Wing at Nottingham Prison alongside his murder victim on June 28. She said: "Mr Thornton had not long been in prison and when he was first taken to custody he made some foolish comments to an officer about how he didn't like black men.

"This was enough to provoke this defendant into seeking him out and attacking him. "At just after 10am the defendant spotted Mr Thornton and indicated to the shower block and then he and Mr Thornton entered the shower.

"Just one minute later the defendant nonchalantly sauntered out of the shower. He had left Mr Thornton bleeding on the floor, having viciously attacked him.

"Prison officers were alerted and they tried to save Mr Thornton, but he was taken to hospital and sadly never regained consciousness, dying from his injuries on July 12."

In an emotional moment in court, Eric Thornton, bereft brother of the slain Mr Thornton, delivered a poignant victim impact statement saying: "Jonathan was a harmless soul with good intentions.

"He was not perfect by any means but you brutally attacked him. Only you will know what your intention was on that fateful day."

Mr Hales, who narrowly escaped death, expressed his trauma through a harrowing victim impact statement read by Ms Heeley, revealing his thoughts during the ordeal: "When I was attacked and I saw all the blood I honestly thought I was going to die and all I could think about was my children and my mum. I'd accepted I was going to die and now I am going to have to rebuild my life."

Amidst hearing the intimate impact statements and reviewing the case's grisly details, the jury reached a unanimous verdict finding the assailant guilty of murdering Mr Thornton and attempting to murder Mr Hales. The perpetrator's harrowing history includes previous convictions for knifepoint robbery, possession of a firearm, and grievous bodily harm (GBH).

"I still wake up in the night having nightmares about the attack. I feel really paranoid that people are out to get me now."

In his defence, Paul Hynes KC argued primarily over the total length of the sentence. After the sentencing, Detective Constable Emily Whiteside commented on the severity of the Edwalton attack: "The nature of the Edwalton attack was horrendous with the victim being stabbed multiple times including to his back as he attempted to flee.

"If it was not for the quick actions of the emergency services and medical professionals, this could have resulted in a murder investigation. As it was, the victim thankfully survived but a murder inquiry was sadly necessary just a few weeks later after Thorpe beat a fellow prison inmate to death.

"This, too, was a horrendous attack and our thoughts are with Mr Thornton's family as they continue to come to terms with his sudden loss. We are pleased Thorpe will now be locked up for many years.

"He is a very dangerous man and Nottinghamshire is a safer place with him behind bars."