A man and woman have been jailed for life for the "ruthless and merciless" murder of a flamboyant Dover character.

Christopher Graham viciously jumped on David Redman's neck and his then girlfriend, Phillipa Hart, helped him dump the victim in the sea. His body has never been found.

A judge described 26-year-old Graham as "a cold-hearted psychopath acting without conscience" but with a desire to get whatever he wanted.

Judge Andrew Patience, QC, said Hart, 22, played a subordinate role but she helped Graham instead of trying stop him committing the "wicked" crime.

Graham and Hart, both of Noah's Ark Road, Dover, denied murdering 22-year-old Mr Redman, of London Road, but were convicted by the jury.

The judge ordered that Graham serve a minimum of 20 years before being considered for parole and Hart 15 years.

"You helped put David Redman into the sea and joined in denying him the right to a decent funeral," he told Hart.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how openly gay Mr Redman, known locally as "Camp David", had been out drinking with with the couple on March 9 last year.

CCTV film showed the three outside the Funky Monkey pub and then near the seafront in the town in the early hours of the next day.

Graham attacked the victim, who tried to fight back. As he lay exhausted on the ground, Graham jumped on his neck. It was not known if he was dead when rolled into the sea.

Police later conducted a missing persons investigation but Hart eventually confessed. Graham claimed he was not present when Mr Redman was attacked.