A drug addict who stabbed a “kindly and quiet” war veteran to death in his home, stealing less than £100 to pay for his next fix was today starting a life sentence in jail.

Allan Pedder, 80, was knifed from behind in the carotid artery and then stabbed a further 17 times by odd-job man Michael Dalton.

Dalton, 45, of Currer Street, Little Germany, Bradford, pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Pedder on August 27 this year.

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday that Dalton, a heroin and crack cocaine addict, snatched Mr Pedder’s wallet from his pocket to fund his addiction.

But desperate Dalton overlooked £340 also in Mr Pedder’s pocket and sums of cash secreted around his home in Gibson Street, Laisterdyke.

Judge James Goss QC told Dalton: “It was a brutal killing of an elderly, vulnerable man in his own home for money that you wanted in order to purchase drugs.”

The judge said Dalton went to the retired dustman’s home armed with cable to obtain money from him.

When Mr Pedder refused, Dalton seized one of his kitchen knives and attacked him, suddenly and unexpectedly, from behind.

“He was a kindly and quiet man, honest and respectful and trusting of friends, hoping and expecting to end his life peacefully,” the judge said.

He sentenced Dalton to life imprisonment and said he must spend at least 22 years behind bars.