Hull killer jailed for at least 36 years for double murder
Phillip Simmons will now spend the next 36 years at least behind bars - for the murder of two men last year.
Double murderer Philip Simmons shouted "forgiveness" as he was sentenced for killing 52-year-old Daniel Hatfield and 49-year-old Matthew Higgins.
Their bodies were discovered in the back garden of 7 May Street, off Beverley Road, in April last year.
They'd been viciously stabbed and strangled by the 38-year-old in what the judge described as an "exceptionally brutal attack on two vulnerable men".
They suffered painful and slow deaths - with up to 44 seperate injuries - and it was some time before their bodies were discovered.
Detective Chief Inspector Tony Cockerill says it proves just how calculated and chilling he is..
"The levels of violence used, that significant sentence was reflective of the circumstances. He has made some quite bold admissions, quite matter of fact around some of the circumstances which is a little disturbing. He made a conscious decision to murder Matthew Higgins and Daniel Hatfield and to cover up his tracks, that in itself is quite chilling."
After murdering the two men while high on drugs - he visited a friend and confessed to the murders before disposing of his footwear there.
Simmons had a violent past and was also imprisoned for a seperate offence of robbery. The court also heard how he'd suffered with mental health problems in the past.
He was told he will serve at least 36 years behind bars for the murders - but it's unlikely he'll ever be released.