The man who murdered the director of a recruitment company and held three others hostage will serve at least 30 years in prison, a judge ruled on Friday.

Russell Leon Carter, of Rumney, Cardiff, was handed a life sentence by the Recorder of Cardiff, Nicholas Cooke, QC, at Newport Crown Court.

The court heard how Carter murdered Kingsley Monk by strangling him, probably with his own tie, at the offices of recruitment agency Driverline 247 in October last year.

He also tied up three Driverline workers: Gethin Heal, Nathan Taylor and Robert Lewis, during the incident. They were doused in fuel as Carter, a former driver with the firm, demanded thousands of pounds he claimed he was owed by the company.

Carter was earlier found guilty of murder and attempted murder. Carter will be 82 before he qualifies for parole.