By Ellie-Louise Style

Ben Bamford, 18 from Crowborough has been sentenced to prison for inflicting 40 knife wounds and slashing Mr Jefferies throat in his own home, Lewes Crown Court heard today.

Paul Jefferies 52 who worked for HM Revenue and Customs and also advised George Osborne’s treasury team first met Bamford on the gay dating app Grindr 2 years ago, when Bamford was just 15 years old.

Bamford told the court that he met Mr Jefferies that night hoping that he may be able to help him pay off his £400 drug debts.

Bamford had pleaded not guilty to the killing, as he said that he was trying to protect himself from Mr Jefferies after he had “ got on top of me “ and continued to have sex with Bamford after being told to stop.

Shortly after Bamford went downstairs to escape, but said that he found the door was locked. Bamford’s clothes and phone were upstairs and he knew he would have to go back up there, so instead he took a knife from Mr Jefferies kitchen and stabbed him.

After Bamford had slashed Mr Jefferies throat he left him in a pool of his own blood on his kitchen floor with a towel over his head. He then stole Mr Jefferies Audi tt and drove himself to Eastbourne District Hospital, as he had wounds himself.

When arriving at the hospital he lied to them stating that he had self harmed, so the police wouldn’t get involved.

DCI Tanya Jones, who led the investigation for Surrey and Sussex major crime team, said: “This was a horrific attack by a teenage boy who preyed on his victim with the aim of exploiting him for money. The level of violence he inflicted on Paul Jefferies was extreme and then he fled the scene in his victim’s car.

“He showed no remorse, smirking for a selfie photo just hours later … Although this can never undo what he has done, I hope it will bring some justice for Paul’s family, friends and colleagues.”