Binman killing: Murderer claimed the attack was not pre-meditated

The man found guilty of murdering binman Stephen Whitehead claimed his responsibility was diminished by his moderate learning difficulties - giving him the capacity of an eight-year-old.

Aaron Jenkins (20) was convicted today following a week-long trial at Preston Crown Court and will be sentenced on March 3rd.

Jenkins admitted bludgeoning Stephen Whitehead to death with a sledgehammer at Pendle Skips when he broke in on July 25th.

But he claimed he did not premeditate the attack and admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Three weeks before the killing, the pair had come to blows when Mr Whitehead had called Jenkins lazy as they worked together in the yard.

After a fist fight which left both men requiring hospital treatment, Jenkins was told not to come back to his casual job at the sorting and recycling plant in Burnley.

On July 25th, Jenkins had been drinking with two teenagers. Mr Whitehead had also been drinking in a number of local pubs and had decided to sleep at the yard - something colleagues said he sometimes did.

The boy Jenkins was with said he was considering buying a motorbike and Jenkins said he knew where there was one he could steal.