Killer jailed for murder after knifing man at home

A man has been jailed for murder after he fatally stabbed a father at his Coventry home.

Alexander Neilson, 28, produced a knife when he visited Anthony Priestley at his home in Aldrich Avenue and stabbed him eight times last November, police said.

He was due to face trial at Warwick Crown Court on Tuesday, but changed his plea and admitted murder. He was sentenced earlier to life in prison, and was told he would serve a minimum term of 27 years.

"This was an act of senseless violence which took a man's life," said Det Sgt Anthony Wareham of West Midlands Police, following the sentencing.

Priestley died on the same night of the attack, on 18 November.

While leaving the address, Neilson "made threats to the other people inside that if they called the police, he would do the same to them", said police.

Officers from the West Midlands force used witness statements and looked at hours of CCTV footage to piece together the events leading up to the attack.

This led them to Neilson, of no fixed address, being arrested on the same day.

After being arrested, police said Neilson denied having anything to do with Priestley's death, but later admitted to stabbing him in an interview.

Det Sgt Wareham added that "regardless of the circumstances, Anthony Priestley had a right to feel safe in his own home".

"We hope Anthony's family will feel closure knowing we were able to secure justice against Alexander Neilson," he said.

Paying tribute to her father, Priestley's daughter said: "Dad, you're missed every day and I will love you forever."

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