Church organist murder: Jonathan Bowling jailed for life for battering Alan Greaves to death on Christmas Eve

22-year-old admitted killing the pensioner as he walked to play the organ at Midnight Mass

A man who battered a church organist to death on Christmas Eve has been jailed for life.

Jonathan Bowling was told he will serve at least 25 years in prison after admitting murdering Alan Greaves as he walked to play the organ at Midnight Mass.

The 22-year-old was jailed for life at Sheffield Crown Court, with the judge saying: "Why you wished to inflict violence on another human being on Christmas Eve is known only to you."

Mr Justice Teare added: "You chose your victim at random. Alan Greaves happened to be in front of you, on his way to serve the community, as he had always done, and you decided to inflict violence on him."

Bowling admitted battering the pensioner around the head with a pick-axe handle as he walked to St Saviour's Church in High Green, Sheffield, on December 24 last year.

The father-of-four suffered catastrophic head injuries and died three days later in hospital.

Another man, 22-year-old Ashley Foster, was found guilty of Mr Greaves' manslaughter and was jailed today for nine years.

The judge said the attack took place on Christmas Eve "on what is usually one of the happiest days of the year".

He said: "Neither of you knew Alan Greaves. He had done nothing to provoke the attack on him.

"He was merely walking to church to help his local community celebrate Christmas.

"His wife, his family and his community have suffered a tragic and horrendous loss."

There was no repeat of the dramatic scene seen in court after yesterday's manslaughter verdict on Foster. Bowling had admitted murder at a previous hearing.

Mr Greaves' widow, Maureen, said she was "happy" with the sentences.

Outside court, she said: "I really am extremely pleased with the result today.

"To think Ashley's got nine years is the very best we could have got in the circumstances of the manslaughter.

"To think that Jonathan's got 25 minimum and to think he'll probably never come out, I really am wonderfully pleased with the result."

She told reporters she would not read a letter Bowling had written to her.

"To put it into my hands the day he was going to get sentenced, I didn't think it was very appropriate," she said.

"If he was going to write me a letter he should have written it a long time ago."

Mrs Greaves said she had given the letter to Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick, of South Yorkshire Police, to look after in case she changes her mind.

Additional reporting Press Association