A FORMER soldier who beat a man to death to stop him calling the police has been jailed for life.

Lee Sheehan, aged 34, 'went mad' during the attack and smashed the facial bones of 47-year-old Nigel Davies and caused his head to swell up 'like a beach ball'.

Before he died, ten days later, Mr Davies regained consciousness and named Sheehan as his attacker.

His evidence was read to a Swansea Crown Court jury from beyond the grave.

Mr Davies was on his way to a telephone box in the centre of Haverfordwest to tell police Sheehan had just attacked his friend Andrew Coles.

Sheehan, who boxed for his regiment, caught up with him and launched what the judge called a 'vicious, bullying, thuggish' assault with his fists and feet. Passers-by later recalled hearing his victim beg for mercy.

Sheehan, of The Close, Johnston, later returned and kicked Mr Davies several times, at least once to the head.

Mr Davies was taken to Withybush Hospital and would have been transferred to a specialist head injuries unit at Morriston Hospital, but no bed was available.

He was moved ten days later, but died within 24 hours.

Sheehan's defence team argued that Mr Davies' death, from multiple organ failure, had been caused by an underlying disease and a lack of appropriate care. Mr Davies had, in the past, received hospital treatment for liver problems caused by alcohol abuse.

Judge John Diehl said the jury had rightly rejected the contention that the assault had not been the cause of death or that any doctor or nurse had been negligent.

Sheehan was convicted of murder and jailed for life.

Judge Diehl said the 'starting point' for the minimum time he must spend behind bars was 15 years. But there were certain mitigating factors, including a lack of intent to kill, and he reduced the minimum before Sheehan can apply for parole to 12 years.

Sheehan's barrister Elwen Evans QC, said he had spent six years in the Army before being discharged due to a wrist injury. Since then he had sunk into a world of alcohol abuse.

Sheehan had been so ashamed of what he had done, said Miss Evans, that he had banned his own family from visiting him in jail.