A rent boy has been convicted of killing his lover.

Ricardo Pisano, 36, was this afternoon found guilty of the manslaughter of Michael Polding, 62.

Mr Polding was found dead in his flat in St George's Road, Kemp Town, Brighton on July 16, 2012, although it is believed he died in May that year.

It was a 10-2 majority verdict by the jury.

Pisano was also found guilty of GBH, but cleared of murder.

He has been jailed for 18-and-a-half years and will serve half of this in prison and half on licence. 

On being convicted, Pisano, known as The Artful Dodger, shouted from the dock, “I hope you sleep well at night. I'm innocent”.

An extract from a victim impact statement from Patrick Polding, a relative of Mr Polding, was read out.

As Pisano sat with his head in his hands, Lewes Crown Court was told that Polding's family were devastated because he had died in “considerable pain”.

Members of Mr Polding's family were in court for the verdict and embraced as it was read out.

 

For more see tomorrow's Argus.