A HEROIN addict who murdered an actor in his own home by trussing him up and battering him repeatedly was jailed for life yesterday.

Barry Bowyer, 38, will serve at least 30 years in prison for murdering his love rival Gary Suller, 45, whose efforts to get a former prostitute he had fallen in love with off drugs cost him his life.

Friends and family of Mr Suller burst into tears in the public gallery when the guilty verdict was read out.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Bowyer resented Mr Suller’s attempts to help Katie Gilmore and began threatening him verbally and sent him a text threatening to kill him – leaving Mr Suller in such fear, he would often stay at friends’ houses instead of his own.

On September 6, 2011, Bowyer, of Llanon House, Croesyceiliog, broke into Mr Suller’s home in Harold Street, Pontnewydd.

When Mr Suller returned home and disturbed the burglary, in what Judge John Curran described as “the ultimate nightmare for any householder”, Bowyer smashed a chair into Mr Suller’s torso before tying his arms and feet together using electrical flex and punching, kicking and stamping on him several times – the beating went on long enough to allowblood to dry on Mr Suller’s face before he was attacked again.

Judge Curran described it as a “prolonged and brutal”

series of assaults which included attacks which left Mr Suller “bound, helpless and unconscious”.

Mr Suller was a father of two who appeared as an extra in programmes including Casualty, as well as playing a role in the film Mr Nice.

Bowyer then stole his DVDs and 42in flat screen TV which he pawned for just £205.

Bowyer has a history of violence – in 1992, he was locked up for three years for robbery and possession of an offensive weapon, and in 1996, he was jailed for nine years for robbery, wounding and wounding with intent for stabbing a taxi driver during a robbery.

In May, 2004, he was jailed for five years and three months for robbery and wounding – again for stabbing a taxi driver in a robbery.

When he murdered Mr Suller, he was on bail for breaching a community order imposed for criminal damage, dishonestly making a false representation and having a bladed article in public.

No separate penalty was imposed for the burglary.