A beggar has been jailed for life after admitting the drug-fuelled murder of a Dutch artist in Dundee.
John Styles, 21, plunged a knife into Jeroen van Neijhof 19 times at a flat on Brown Constable Street on May 23.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard Styles carried out the frenzied attack after becoming enraged that Mr van Neijhof was unable to offer him heroin.
Styles admitted to his former girlfriend: “You don’t know what I’ve done with him. I danced all over his head.”
The pair had been taking drugs at Mr van Neijhof’s flat before Styles carried out the brutal murder. He was on two bail orders at the time.
The court heard the victim’s manager at a local hotel discovered him lying face down in the flat after he failed to turn up for work.
Despite repeatedly denying his role in the murder during a police interview, Styles pleaded guilty by letter and was sentenced today.
Judge Lady Carmichael told him: “You seem to have been significantly under the influence of drugs.
“You subjected him to an extremely brutal attack, inflicting multiple stab wounds and blunt trauma to his head.
“Your dependence on drugs, I have no doubt, is a significant factor in your offending.”
Four weeks before the murder, Styles told his former partner that he had been taking ketamine with a Dutch man.
On May 23, Styles complained to the woman that he was suffering from drug withdrawal and went begging outside the Co-Op on Albert Street.
Mr van Neijhof purchased a soft drink and spoke to Styles, who returned to the Dutch national’s flat to take ketamine and MDMA.
Styles then repeatedly struck Mr van Neijhof on the head and body with an ornament before stabbing him on the head and body with a knife.
Mr van Neijhof, 38, was a professional artist and sculptor, originally from Apeldoorn in The Netherlands.
He produced paintings and paper sculptures from his studio at his home, selling them online for hundreds of pounds each.
Styles was given a lifelong restriction order and ordered to serve at least 15 years in prison following the completion of his current prison sentence.
He showed no emotion as he was led away.
Detective Inspector Brian Geddes of the Major Investigation Team said: “My thoughts are with the family and friends of Jeroen Van Neijhof.
“This was a horrific and brutal murder, committed by someone who Jeroen probably regarded as a friend. I would like to thank members of the public who assisted police officers in bringing this case to court.
“I can only hope today’s conviction brings some measure of comfort to Jeroen’s family and friends.”
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