A MAN has been jailed for life for the brutal murder of a student in an unprovoked, random attack.

Imran Akhtar Hussain, 27, of Tilehurst Lane, Binfield, was found guilty last week of the murder of 18-year-old Kieran Crump Raiswell. The killing took place in Manchester in January and police said Hussain had gone there purely to cause harm.

Hussain had denied murder but admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.However, he was found guilty by a jury at Manche-ster Crown Court.

After Hussain was jailed for a minimum of 23 years on Friday, Detective Chief Inspector Pete Marsh, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "This was a premeditated unprovoked attack on an innocent young man who had his whole life ahead of him.

"Hussain and Kieran had not met before; Hussain came to Manchester with the sole intention of causing harm. He picked Kieran out of a crowd and followed him down Upper Chorlton Road. Hussain hid behind a bush and waited for Kieran to walk past before subjecting him to a savage attack.

"This was a cold-blooded motiveless killing and it is clear from his actions that Hussain obviously has no regard for human life. He stabbed Kieran before leaving him collapsed on the floor fighting for his life.

"No sentence will ever be enough or can undo the needless loss of life, but I hope that today's result will be of some small comfort to Kieran's family and friends."

The attack took place at 2.15pm on January 16, as Mr Crump Raiswell was walking towards Manchester city centre to look for a job.

Hussain, who was hiding in a bush, waited until Mr Crump Raiswell walked past him and plunged a knife into his back twice so hard that one of the wounds went straight through Mr Crump Raiswell's shoulder blade.

As he turned around Hussain stabbed him two more times in the arm and chest. Mr Crump Raiswell fell to the floor and Hussain ran back to his car and drove off.

A member of public called an ambulance and a passing fire brigade crew gave emergency first aid and resuscitation but he died in hospital.

Hussain was captured after police used CCTV to track his car to a service station where he withdrew money. They traced the card used to his address.

A statement from Kieran's parents Roland Crump and Christine Raiswell said: "At this time, it is important to remember Kieran as an outstanding young man about to embark on his adult life and we treasure the memory of our fantastic eldest son. We will always remember him.

"Kieran was walking into town on that Wednesday afternoon in January when Imran Hussain picked out our son and subjected him to a vicious attack that gave him no chance of defending himself. We believe this senseless murder has been justly punished. Equally, we believe Hussain should serve his sentence and not be considered for release until he no longer poses a threat to society."

Hussain's attack came less than two weeks after he had punched a 38-year-old man in Nottingham.

The attack was also unprovoked against a victim he did not know.