THE SON of a bomb disposal expert bludgeoned to death by a friend over a debt says he was "shocked" to receive a letter of sympathy from an MP.

Kane Manning said he "didn't expect" to receive a letter from Peter Kyle through the post after The Argus revealed his father's killer was moving to an open prison.

His father Mark Manning, a bomb disposal expert who also bought and sold cars, was bludgeoned to death on April 19, 2014, by a friend over a debt.

Colin Gale, of Worthing, killed Mr Manning at the P&B Sales garage in Western Road, Lancing.

Giving evidence, Gale himself told the jury he used a one-metre industrial wrench to kill Mark in self defence after he attacked him with an axe over a £17,000 debt for the sale of two vehicles.

He was jailed for 15 years for manslaughter after a trial at Lewes Crown Court in March 2017.

After reading the story in The Argus the Hove and Portslade MP wrote to the 23-year-old and said he was "incredibly moved" by his story.

The Argus: Kane Manning with the letter sent from Peter Kyle Kane Manning with the letter sent from Peter Kyle

The letter read: "Dear Kane,

"I was incredibly moved to read The Argus about the horrors you face with the impending move of your dad's killer to Ford open prison.

"Very few people can imagine the pain this causes and the challenges it presents people in your position.

"Over the last year, I have tried to get a new law passed that would give people in your position more power of times like these and more rights.

"I won't give up.

"I am always here for you as your MP too. If you ever want to meet and talk directly about your experiences or ask for my help or support - just drop me a message and I will jump to it."

In 2018, Gale appealed against the sentence. He appeared at the Royal Courts of Justice in London for the hearing and received a four-month reduction.

Kane was just 16 when his father disappeared. He waited two years for his father’s body to be found before learning his best friend had killed him.

He told The Argus that Mr Kyle's letter was a complete "surprise". He later spoke to the MP over the phone.

The Argus: Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle sendt Kane the heartwarming letter after reading about his story in the paper Hove and Portslade MP Peter Kyle sendt Kane the heartwarming letter after reading about his story in the paper

Kane said: "I was quite shocked to get that through the post. It was out of nowhere.

"I didn't expect that. I got it through the post, from the House of Commons at his office in London.

"I spoke to him on the phone and showed my appreciation. It was brilliant."

Unbeknown to Kane, Gale – who continued to pretend to be one of Mr Manning’s best friends – had killed his father, pretending to have dropped him off at the station to make it look like he had gone away.

For weeks Kane, then aged 16, lived with Gale in Offington Lane, Worthing, treating him like a father figure.

Now 23-years-old, he has been diagnosed with anxiety related to the trauma he experienced after his father's death.

He previously told The Argus: "I have never had anxiety before and I have been diagnosed with it.

"I can go out, I can go to work and I am mentally strong. But I spoke to my doctor and they said it is because of the trauma I went through.

"You know I knew that guy who killed my dad, they were business partners and I stayed with him because my dad trusted him.

"I went to court every day and heard a lot of information that I didn't want to hear. I had to go to trial every day - it is not nice."