A jobless craftsman who went to the pub after murdering his drunken lover in a furious rage was today starting a life sentence.

Michael Moffat, 49, punched, kicked and stamped on Penny Beale in her basement flat, inflicting appalling injuries all over her body.

Her ribs were fractured in 18 places and severe bruising was caused to her face, neck, torso and limbs, causing her death within a few minutes.

Moffat, of Lascelles Terrace, Eastbourne, who yesterday pleaded guilty to murder, remained impassive as he was jailed at Lewes Crown Court.

The court heard the couple's year-long relationship had been beset by violence, alcohol and drug abuse, leading to concerns from the victim's mother.

Miss Beale, 31 and Moffat, both unemployed, were users of drugs including cocaine and cannabis.

On the afternoon of the killing, on November 25 last year, Miss Beale had drunk up to six pints of lager at The Smugglers pub in White Rock, Hastings, near her rented flat in Holmesdale Gardens.

As the afternoon wore on, staff and regulars saw her bump into a pool table, make derogatory remarks and drink another customer's pint.

At 4.30pm she left an unfinished pint and returned to her flat, carrying a holdall containing her laundry.

David Fisher QC, prosecuting, said a group of five friends in a neighbouring flat later heard a ferocious row from Miss Beale's flat.

Mr Fisher said: "One friend heard shouting and banging in a really aggressive and dramatic way. A series of really heavy thumps and crashing noises were heard.

"The woman was heard crying and saying 'don't hit me' while a man was heard shouting and swearing in a vicious manner. All five men were disturbed. What they heard troubled them considerably for the rest of the evening. However, they did not do anything."

The court heard Moffat covered Miss Beale's body with a duvet and left her in the flat while he went to The Smugglers at about 7pm.

He was accompanied by friend John Austin, who he told of the bust-up, saying: "She was off her face."

Mr Austin presumed it was just another row and did not press Moffat further. They stayed in the pub until 9.45pm before Moffat returned to the flat alone where he called 999.

Mr Fisher said: "Mr Moffat told the operator Penny Beale would not wake up, that she was unconscious, cold and had no pulse. He appeared off-hand and disinterested."

Paramedics arrived and spent 25 minutes trying to revive her but she was pronounced dead at Conquest Hospital in Hastings that evening.

Mr Fisher said: "Mr Moffat appeared not to be upset and said 'She's going to be all right'. The paramedics asked him what had happened and he said he had come back from the shop and simply found her."

Police at first thought her death may have been drink or drugs related. Tests showed high levels of alcohol and traces of ecstasy and cannabis. However, suspicion soon grew as detectives found little evidence to support Moffat's account of her injuries.

Doctors found her injuries were defensive and were not caused by her falling over in a stupor. The following morning Moffat arrived at Mr Austin's home looking shocked and pale.

He told him: "Penny's dead. All I can taste is her breath."

Moffat was arrested on November 28 and charged with murder. His defence counsel Neil Ford said his client was provoked by Miss Beale taunting him about an old flame.

He said Moffat had shown remorse.

Jailing him, Judge Mr Justice Wright said: "When she got drunk it should have been for you to look after her so she came to no harm. But you didn't. You launched a most appalling attack using fists and feet - an attack lasting many minutes."