A Barnsley man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for murdering his friend, Sammy Haughton.

John Green stabbed Mr Haughton eight times in the face, head, chest and back.

Detective Chief Inspector Sean Middleton, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: “Green’s conviction of murder and sentence reflect the callousness of the crime.”

Green told Sheffield Crown Court that he had asked Mr Haughton to leave his house on Colley Crescent, Barnsley because he found him smoking a crack pipe in the kitchen.

He said he was acting in self defence after Mr Haughton threatened him with a needle. Drunk and stoned, Green retaliated stabbing his friend with a kitchen knife.

Bryan Cox, prosecuting, argued the injuries were inconsistent with self defence.

DCI Middleton said: “We offer our deepest condolences to Mr Haugton’s family and will continue to offer support to them wherever we can.”

Police found Mr Haughton sprawled in the garden when they were called to the address on 6 December 2011. Paramedics tried to save him but he died a short time later.

Mr Haughton’s family said: “It’s been four months since we received a knock at the door and were told our son Sammy had been killed. We are told that time heals, but it doesn’t.

"As time goes by it becomes harder as it sinks in, we will never see our son again. All we have of Sammy are our memories. Sammy has a seven-year-old daughter and she will never see her dad again.

"It is heart breaking to see her talking to him at his graveside. John Green has ruined our lives. We are pleased he has been found guilty of the murder of our son but no amount of years is long enough.”