A FORMER bus driver who was jailed for six years for killing his best friend has had his sentence extended for an earlier assault on him.

William Jackson kicked Walter Littlejohn on the head and body a year before he battered him to death at his flat in Govanhill, Glasgow, last July.

The 51 year-old had pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to the assault on Batson Street on July 29, 2013 and was awaiting sentence for the crime when he killed his 56-year-old friend.

After being jailed for six years for the killing, sheriff Sam Cathcart added nine months on to his sentence for the assault.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how Mr Littlejohn had made a "fairly neutral" remark about Jackson's mum which sparked the killer into a rage.

Jackson will also be supervised for a further three years on his release.

The death came to light on August 1 when Jackson called an ambulance claiming he had found Mr Littlejohn lying dead in a chair at his flat in the city's Jamieson Street.

A post mortem found Mr Littlejohn had been assaulted.

He was found to have bleeding in the skull, rib fractures, injuries to his bowel and liver as well as bruising.

It was also found he had defensive-type injuries.

It is thought Mr Littlejohn was beaten to death in Jackson's living room.