The blind man who killed York woman Krystyna Walton will be free within days.

Today Mr Justice Harrison jailed Anthony O'Connell for 12 months and revoked the three-year probation order given for the manslaughter of his friend.

Because of the time he has spent on remand, O'Connell will be released from jail within days, York Crown Court heard.

Last year, care homes and residential homes across northern England had to show him the door because they found him "unmanageable".

His barrister, Paul Worsley QC said that he was a manipulative man who had aggressive outbursts and a very low tolerance for anything he didn't like.

Mr Justice Harrison heard evidence from a probation officer that they had spent the entire time O'Connell was on probation trying to find somewhere where he could live.

O'Connell, 36, formerly of Bouthwaite Drive, Acomb, was being re-sentenced for breaching the probation order imposed for the manslaughter of Mrs Walton on September 7, 1998.

In August magistrates found him guilty of breaching the three-year probation order imposed on October 8, 1999, by Mr Justice Hooper.

He has been in prison on remand since a home in Wakefield had to call the police to take him away on July 22, 2000.

He also spent the equivalent of a two-year prison sentence on remand between killing Mrs Walton and Mr Justice Hooper imposing the sentence.

Julian Goose, prosecuting, said he killed Mrs Walton by holding the back of her neck with one hand and punching her four or five times to the face. This caused her nose to bleed and choked her. She had 42 injuries, 17 of which were human bite marks.

Mr Justice Harrison today said there was an "appalling sentencing dilemma" over O'Connell, who is blind and an epileptic.

O'Connell had been " uncooperative and abusive and aggressive to people who were trying to help him.

Updated: 16:04 Monday, January 15, 2001