A MAN who laughed after battering a former friend to death with a golf club has been jailed for at least 18 years.

Stuart Patterson, 27, was out on bail when he attacked Paul Cunningham, on ­February 8. The High Court in Glasgow heard Patterson attacked the 35-year-old with such force that his head was caved in and he bled to death.

Patterson had apparently planned to steal cannabis plants Mr Cunningham had in his home in Aberdour Street, Haghill, Glasgow.

Yesterday judge John Morris, QC, told Patterson: "The jury convicted you of the murder of a man who was once your friend.

"Whether it was to steal the cannabis plants he was looking after or whether it was revenge for some perceived wrong in the past, only you can tell.

"It was a brutal killing of a defenceless man."