A MAN who murdered a Kidderminster father in his flat has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 17 years.

A jury previously found Nathan Calder guilty of murdering his "friend" Paul Lundy by stabbing him to death with a kitchen knife.

Calder appeared at Worcester Crown Court today (Thursday, December 12) to be sentenced.

The court previously heard how Calder, aged 28, of Eddy Road, killed 48-year-old Paul Lundy in his Horsefair flat after an evening of drinking on May 22 this year.

Calder denied murder, claiming he stabbed Mr Lundy in self-defence after the victim allegedly “sexually propositioned and manhandled him”.

After a two-week trial, jurors returned a unanimous verdict against Nathan Calder on Tuesday (December 10).

Today, prosecutor Jonas Hankin told the court Calder has had a total of 24 convictions from 33 separate offences dating back to when he was a youth.

The court heard Calder had once “sexually assaulted” a child under the age of 13 and abused an older man when “carrying a claw hammer.”

Mr Hankin also highlighted previous offences of battery, possession of a knife, affray, criminal damage and theft.

He told the court: “The defendant has a propensity to unlawful violence. History deprives the defendant mitigation.”

Mr Hankin spoke on behalf Mr Lundy’s sister Edith Dooley in court, reading in part a written statement made by her.

He said: “She is completely devastated with what has happened to her brother, the thought of never being able to contact him breaks her heart. The loss of her brother was a total shock."

The statement read: “His death has left a gaping hole” and has had a “ripple effect on friends and family”.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Paul Lundy was murdered in his flat in May this year. Photo from FacebookPaul Lundy was murdered in his flat in May this year. Photo from Facebook

Mr Lundy’s son Lewis Hughes also shared a statement which was read in part by the prosecutor.

Mr Hankin said: “His life has changed forever and will never be the same.

“He wants Mr Calder to understand what he has done and what he has put the family through.”

Addressing Calder, Judge Robert Juckes QC said: “The sentence I pass onto you cannot repair the damage that you have done.

“The loss of a father and friend and relative is irreplaceable.”

He then called the incident “wholly unnecessary.”

The judge said: “I don’t hesitate to find that My Lundy did some of those acts that you suggested."

But then said: “This could have been dealt with by moving out of his way.

“There should have been no difficulty with it.” 

“You were perhaps disgusted by what he was doing and you became angry and you picked up the knife and you acted in anger.”

He added, “there was an element of provocation” and Calder’s anger “formed the intention to kill.”

Judge Juckes said to Calder: “You told and continued to tell lies about the circumstances in which you found yourself.

“There was a moment when in the trial you admitted responsibility for what you have done.”

Calder was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 17 years and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.