A HOMELESS burglar has been jailed for life for strangling a father-of-two to death.

Unemployed Kenneth Osei-Bonsu, 35, of no fixed abode, but originally from Dagenham, has been found guilty of murdering Gary Painter in June 2006.

Mr Painter, 39, lay dead for three days in a bath at his home in Salop Road, Walthamstow, before being found by Kelly Drake, the mother of his children, and her new boyfriend.

The judge recommended that Osei-Bonsu serve a minimum of 26 years. Jurors at the Old Bailey heard that Osei-Bonsu broke into Mr Painter's flat to steal from him and then strangled him.

Investigating officer Det Chief Insp John Macdonald said: "We may never know why Osei-Bonsu strangled Mr Painter, we don't know whether he disturbed him or if something else happened that elevated a burglary to murder.

"This was a difficult case to prove and I would like to particularly thank the Forensic Science Service whose work in retrieving DNA evidence proved crucial in securing a conviction."

The court heard that Osei-Bonsu's DNA had been found on a bottle of water in Mr Painter's flat.

He claimed he had met Mr Painter earlier in the street and taken a drink but there was no evidence the two knew each other.

Mobile phone records also showed Osei-Bonsu had been in Walthamstow at the time of the murder before travelling back to Dagenham.

Mr Painter was described as an Arsenal fan, who loved football, sport and his family.

He leaves two sons, Lewis and Tommy, who were aged 13 and 10 at the time of his death and live with their mother in Leyton.