A murderer who stabbed his friend to death then tried to behead him has been jailed for life.
Matthew Jones, 42, killed 39-year-old William Phelan in his own home, then left his body there for about six weeks.
It was only when police broke down Mr Phelan's door that they found him.
After the 'brutal and savage' killing, Jones stole some of his victim's possessions and tried to cover his tracks.
A judge said he deliberately broke the key to the flat in Harpurhey in the lock to try and hinder attempts to enter the property.
Jones also put up a note at the flat saying 'gone on holiday'.
Mr Phelan's family told how they have been left 'haunted' by the 'evil and sickening way' he was killed.
Jones was sentenced to life in prison to serve a minimum of 20 years after he was unanimously convicted of murder.
His trial heard that both men suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, and had become friends while they were being treated for mental illnesses in hospital.
Jones had spent the months prior to murdering Mr Phelan living in his eventual victim's flat.
It is not clear when exactly Jones murdered him. Prosecutors were only able to say it happened at the end of January 2018, or the start of February that year.
Concerns were raised about his whereabouts and police broke down the door of the flat in Kilnside Drive and found Mr Phelan's body.
"Using William Phelan's own kitchen knife, you stabbed him to death on his sofa in the living room," Judge Patrick Field QC told Jones.
He was stabbed eight times, suffering injuries which were 'not survivable'.
"But you didn't know that," the judge said.
Then Jones went on to 'very nearly' decapitate Mr Phelan, trying to cut his head off.
Jones later claimed he did it because he 'wanted to make sure that he was dead'.
The judge continued: "Then having pilfered his things, including his stereo, a wall hanging, his bank card and his food, you left him."
Describing Mr Phelan, the judge said: "He had lived a troubled life, beset as he was by mental illness.
"But he was regarded as gentle and kindhearted, and was well liked by those who knew him.
"He lived a modest life, it was peaceful and inoffensive. He had found enjoyment in music.
"You brought all that to an end, when you murdered him."
Mr Phelan's sister Melanie said she had been the last person to see him, on January 23, 2018.
"I wish I could have convinced him to stay with us," she said in a statement read to the court.
"Every night I cry myself to sleep, knowing that he went through in the last moments of his life.
"He should never have been taken away from us in a cruel, evil and sickening way.
"We wouldn't want to have another family go through what we went through."
She added: "Even during his troubles, he was a gentle, kindhearted soul who wouldn't harm anyone."
Defending, Adam Kane QC said Jones had suffered from 'chronic, enduring paranoid schizophrenia' since 2001, and had lacked insight about the presence of his mental illness.
Jones had already served time in custody which counted towards his sentence, which reduced the minimum term to 18 years and 170 days.
