Leeds Crown Court heard Daniel Reed’s own account of how he became a killer, given to a psychiatrist. He spent 17 minutes at Shaun Skelton’s flat.

“I ran upstairs and kicked his door open, he was asleep and I woke him up," he said. "I didn’t say anything until I sat down.

“I smashed his head in with a hammer then I cut his throat and I loved it. “I had an urge to kill him. I didn’t have an urge. I finally did it. When he realised he didn’t have a chance, I don’t think he saw it coming.

“Maybe he knew one day I was going to get him. The feeling of a life in your hands is to save a life, it’s the same rush as taking a life, I probably feel better about ending one.

“I can still see his face covered in blood crawling around trying to get up. I told him don’t get up, I’ll make it easy for you.

“I knocked him out and I cut his throat….. He was doing the talking, begging me to stop.

“I tried to stop, telling myself to stop but I wouldn’t listen, I sometimes do things…….. It’s like a self-destruct button.”