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, Kent, after coming off worse in a pub fight 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.