A "BRUTAL" killer has been handed two life sentences for his "sustained and frenzied" fatal attack on two people.

Austin Brayford will serve at least 30 years behind bars for killing Helen Dawson and Ivor Spratek whose bodies were found in a flat in Little Horton in July.

The 37-year-old was jailed by Mr Justice Edis at Leeds Crown Court this morning.

The court heard Miss Dawson was strangled and had numerous knife wounds.

The judge said: "This was an attack in frenzy against a defenceless woman.”

Mr Spratek was repeatedly hit, mostly around the head, with a blunt instrument during the attack described by the judge was "brutal, sustained and frenzied."

An inquest in August was told that Miss Dawson, 48, of Cornwall Place, Manningham, Bradford, died from asphyxia and multiple stab wounds and Mr Spratek, 40, a Czech national, of Sawrey Place, Little Horton, had a fatal head injury.

The court heard that part of Brayford's motivation was racial and he thought the pair were Polish. Miss Dawson was English and Mr Spratek a Czech national.

Brayford, of Sawrey Place, Little Horton, pleaded guilty to double murder in September.

Speaking after the sentencing, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson, of Protective Services (Crime), said: "This was a despicable act against two vulnerable individuals, who considered Brayford to be their friend.

"We will never know what caused him to commit such shocking and gratuitous violence, which has left one family without a loving mother and another without a son and brother.

"We would also like to praise the efforts of the member of the public who overheard Brayford talking about what he had done. Her swift actions made sure that police were able to quickly locate and arrest him.

"Brayford has shown no remorse or compassion for the grieving famiilies, in Bradford and in the Czech Republic, by offering an explanation for what he did.

"Today he has been sentenced for his actions, and we hope that this will give the families of Helen and Ivor some comfort."