A homophobic thug has been jailed for at least 32 years for a knife attack on a gay couple which left one man dead and his partner scarred for life.
David Kilcullen, 46, went to rob frail Gerald Edwards armed with a knife and determined not to leave any witnesses behind.
But he did not bank on Mr Edward's partner Chris Bevan being at home and attacked him too, the Old Bailey heard.
Judge Brian Barker, the Common Serjeant of London, said: "There was at least an undercurrent of homophobic attitude."
He jailed Kilcullen, of Bickley, south-east London, for life for murder and attempted murder and told him he may well die in prison because he is so dangerous.
Housebound Mr Edwards, 59, was stabbed four times and died in his blood-covered flat in in Page Heath Villas, Bromley, south-east London, in March.
Health worker Mr Bevan, 56, also suffered "catastrophic injuries" but escaped death when he fled to alert neighbours. He was stabbed and slashed but his life was saved when he received open-heart massage at the scene after his heart stopped.
Judge Barker told Kilcullen, who had a violent past, that it was only through the skill of emergency services that he was not facing two murder charges.
"You intended both to die. It was only the presence of mind and bravery of Chris Bevan to flee, that he did not suffer the same fate as his partner."
He added: "You showed no mercy to your victims and your behaviour that night defies belief. They were vulnerable and you knew it. You saw an opportunity to extort money and thought you had found an easy target."
