A HOP picker who beat his workmate to death has been told he must spend more than 13 years behind bars before he can be considered for release.

Keith Thomas Andrew Walmsley, 46, launched a revenge attack with a blunt instrument on his friend of 20 years, Peter Metcalfe, 43, as he slept beside his wife on the morning of September 4 1999.

Walmsley, of Longridge, was jailed for life after being convicted of murder at Canterbury Crown Court on February 20 2001. Mr Metcalfe was also from Lancashire.

After reviewing the case at London's High Court, Mr Justice Teare set the minimum term he must serve before he can apply for parole at 13-and-a-half years.

The court heard that Mr Metcalfe was killed at Castlemain Farm, Horsdean, near Tunbridge Wells after administering a beating to Walmsley in a pub fight.

"The next morning the applicant rose, made his way to where the deceased lay asleep beside his wife and, with an unrecovered weapon, inflicted not less than three violent blows to the face of the deceased, which led to his death as a result of a brain injury," Mr Justice Teare said.

The judge added: "The motive must have been revenge but I do not consider it fair to say that there was a significant degree of premeditation. I have therefore concluded that there are no aggravating features.

"There were mitigating features.

"Firstly it was not suggested that there was an intent to kill. Walmsley's intention was to cause serious bodily harm rather than to kill. That intent was formed when he was probably still under the influence of alcohol and still suffering from the effects of his beating the night before.

"Secondly, although he was not provoked in a legal sense, he had received a beating from the deceased the night before which led him to attack the deceased in the morning. In that sense there was an element of provocation.

"The deceased and Walmsley had been friends for over 20 years. He has read the statements of the deceased's family and I am told that he fully appreciates their grief.

"It seems that reflection after the event has cause him to express remorse for the death of his long- standing friend."

The ruling means that, when time spent on remand is taken into account, Walmsley can ask the Parole Board to free him in 2014.

However he will not be released until he can convince the parole board that he is no longer a dangerous man. When freed, he will remain on perpetual "life licence" and liable to recall to jail should he ever put a foot wrong again.