A Birkenhead man who murdered his “best friend” by stabbing him in the heart has been jailed for life.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that 28-year-old Barry Royle had taken a mixture of drink and drugs when he knifed Peter Caine, a charity worker, to death.

He stabbed the 27-year-old eight times, with the fatal blow cutting through his ribs and penetrating his heart.

Mr Caine, a part-time volunteer at Wirral CVS, suffered massive haemorrhaging and could not be saved by medics.

The court heard that Royle was only living with Mr Caine because the drug mentor had agreed to given him a place to stay while he was facing a rape charge.

It was only Mr Caine’s offer that allowed enabled Royle to be granted bail. Royle was later found not guilty of the sex charges.

Jailing Royle for life, the Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Clement Goldstone QC said: “He was your best friend. He was a man whose accommodation you were sharing and had it not been for his generosity of spirit you had nowhere to live.

“He was a good man. He was a man of whom his friends thought very highly. He had, it its true, experiences difficulties in his early life, but he had turned it around. You snuffed it out.”

The judge added, “I have no doubt that when you stabbed Peter Caine you did intend to kill him.

"I have equally no doubt that that was a short-lived intention, which you soon regretted."

He ordered Royle to serve a minimum of 15 years but warned him, “It is a life sentence from which you may in fact never be released.”

Graham Reeds QC, prosecuting, told how the men, who are both from Barrow-in-Furness, had been drinking and taking amphetamine on May 11.

At about 11.30pm, Royle was sick outside Sunny’s Bar on Argyle Street and was refused re-entry. Door staff then told Mr Caine he also had to leave.

A neighbour heard the pair arguing as they walked back to Mr Caine’s flat on Market Street before going inside.

But soon after, at about 12.30am, she heard Mr Caine shouting that Royle had stabbed him.

Emergency services arrived quickly but the victim's wounds were so serious that he was almost unconscious and unresponsive.

In the back of the ambulance he went into cardiac arrest.

”He had lost a considerable amount of blood from his wounds,” said Mr Reeds.

Mr Caine was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital, where attempts to save him failed, and he was pronounced dead at 1.33am.

Royle called the police within minutes, telling them “I've just stabbed my mate.”

He was arrested just streets away, still carrying the knife and with blood on his hands.

When interviewed he made a full confession telling officers Mr Caine had pushed him and he had responded by getting the carving knife. He said he only remembered stabbing at Mr Caine once.

Raquel Simpson, defending, said, “Peter Caine was his best friend which is why he offered to accommodate him at his home at Mr Royle's time of need.

She spoke of his extreme remorse and said that Royle considers himself a family man and is close to his 11-year-old daughter, but accepted he had difficulties controlling his temper, particularly after drinking.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Hassall said: "While today's sentence can't bring Peter back we hope it brings some comfort to those who knew and loved him."