A killer who lured a man to a cul-de-sac and battered him to death with a metal pole stolen from a burger van has been jailed for life.

Sigitas Grigaliunas, 32, from Plaistow, left fellow Lithuanian Alvydas Miksys to die after inflicting more than 30 injuries including fractures to his skull, ribs and arm.

His injuries were likened to those suffered by car crash victims.

The 32-year-old victim managed to crawl 20 yards before a couple heard his groans from the alleyway in Walthamstow. He later died in hospital.

Although no motive was put forward, it is thought Grigaliunas may have born a grudge against Mr Miksys from the time they shared a prison in their homeland ten years ago.

Detectives only managed to track him down by Googling the number of a mobile phone used to contact the victim.

He pleaded guilty to murder in September last year but was only sentenced after a second suspect, Titus Januskevicius, 22, was acquitted of all charges at the Old Bailey.

Judge Peter Rook QC told him he would serve a minimum of 15 and a half years behind bars before being considered for parole.

The judge added: “The motive for that dreadful attack is unclear but there can be no doubt that you must have born a grudge against Alvydas Miksys and you were part of a plan to attack him.”

He added: “It was a cowardly attack. In those minutes you took away from Alvydas Miksys his most precious possession, life itself. It is a terrible tragedy for him and his family and friends.”

Januskevicius, of Markhouse Avenue, Walthamstow, blamed Grigaliunas, from Rochester Avenue, for the attack and was acquitted of murder and manslaughter.