Ben Williams was hit up to 12 times with the cue

Tommy Kimpton, 19, killed 17-year-old Ben Williams on 20 May 2004 at Kimpton's house in Penryn, Cornwall.

Kimpton admitted manslaughter at Truro Crown Court which heard he had endured years of bullying.

He was given a life sentence with an order he should serve at least two-and a-half years in prison before being considered for release.

Kimpton is a dangerous man who has never shown remorse Ben Williams' family Bullying misery causes cue death

Kimpton had been taunted at school about his weight, glasses and ears.

In one incident graffiti was daubed across a bridge used by Tommy Kimpton as he and some classmates walked to school.

The court was told that, despite the bullying, Kimpton, of Bohelland Road, Penryn, felt obliged to make friends with his tormentors, including Ben Williams.

Kimpton said when he and Ben were alone together he was nice to him but when he was with the others he joined in the bullying.

On 20 May 2004, the pair had been drinking at a pub in Penryn, before Kimpton invited Ben back to stay the night at the house he shared with his mother in the town.

Kimpton said he remembered Ben laughing and then nothing else until after he found his body.

He told the court he had been drinking heavily and smoking cannabis and that might have explained why he attacked him and why he could not remember anything.

Kimpton had invited Ben Williams back to his house

During the trial, Kimpton was described as a "mixed-up and lonely boy" who had been introduced to drink from an early age by his parents who were both heavy drinkers.

Prosecutors said Kimpton smashed the cue over Ben's head between 10 and 12 times with "considerable force", causing extensive head injuries which caused his death.

Kimpton bought black bin bags in an attempt to hide the bloody scene in his bedroom before taking an overdose of painkillers, the court heard.

His mother later found him unconscious, slumped across an armchair in the front room. Nearby were a bottle of vodka, empty packets of paracetamol and two suicide notes.

Kimpton was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro and kept in for two days before being arrested and charged with murder.

Ben's body was discovered half concealed between a cupboard and a wall.

'Dangerous man'

Kimpton admitted manslaughter on the grounds of provocation or diminished responsibility.

In a statement, Ben Williams' family said: "The effect of Ben's death has been devastating, not only to close family but also to Ben's many friends. This is testimony to how Ben was loved. His family and many friends have been robbed of a wonderful person.

"The defence has made great issue of the subject of bullying, when the reality was that Kimpton himself could give as good as he got.

"Ben was the victim, yet the defence would have you believe he had tormented Kimpton, provoking him to commit this dreadful act.