A judge yesterday sentenced a cannibal chef to a minimum 30 years in jail, telling the man that he had used his skills to slice and cook his victim's flesh like a steak.

A judge yesterday sentenced a cannibal chef to a minimum 30 years in jail, telling the man that he had used his skills to slice and cook his victim's flesh like a steak.

Judge James Stewart, QC, told Leeds Crown Court that he no longer just associated cannibalism with "eras long gone" after hearing how Anthony Morley killed his boyfriend, Damian Oldfield, in April.

Morley, 36, from Bexley Place, Leeds, slashed Mr Oldfield's throat before stabbing him multiple times and cooking and eating sections of his flesh.

He was jailed for life yesterday after being found guilty last week of Mr Oldfield's "gruesome" murder.

Sentencing Morley, Judge Stewart said: "This was, in my judgment, a cold-blooded, savagely executed murder carried out by cutting his throat as he lay in your bed and, when he fell to the floor, you stabbed him repeatedly and ferociously. He died.

"You then, when satisfied he was dead, cut chunks from his body and cooked it, using your skill as a chef, with oil and herbs, sliced it as if a steak and tried to eat it.

"It was not to your liking so you spat it out and discarded it in your waste bin."

Judge Stewart continued: "Before this case, I had associated cannibalism with eras long gone, with the tale of Robinson Crusoe. No longer.You have plumbed depths rarely encountered in our court."

Members of the public gallery applauded and shouted "murderer" as Judge Stewart set out how long Morley was to spend behind bars.

During the two-week trial, the court heard how Morley carved a section of flesh from Mr Oldfield's thigh and another from his chest.

Six pieces of human flesh, cooked so they were raw in the middle and browned on the edges, were found on a chopping board in Morley's kitchen.

A bundle of fresh herbs, a knife used to chop them, some olive oil and a dish of seeds were found on the work surface near the cooker and a frying pan was on the hob with the remnants of fried herbs and oil in it.

A section of flesh, which appeared to have been chewed, was found in a bin bag.

Morley, who won the first Mr Gay UK title in 1993 but was said to be confused about his sexuality, had previously had some kind of relationship with openly gay Mr Oldfield.