'Bored' thrill-killer sentenced to three decades for double murder

Boredom prompted a 21-year-old to plan the killing of his neighbours, and has today gained him a 32-year prison sentence.

The rare thrill kill carried out on random victims in their home baffled even those experienced with crime.

Thomas Hemming, 21, was drunk, took a knife he ordered on the internet and knocked on the door of neighbours.

Cheryl and Robert Adamson, just out of bed, let him in when he said he needed to use the phone.

He set upon Mr Adamson whose wife tried to defend him with a broom before she too was savagely attacked.

It was a random impulsive attack, Hemming told police.

When he was bored he'd been having fantasies about killing people.

Five months before the murders, Hemming told his mother he was having violent distressing thoughts. She contacted a psychologist to make an appointment but he didn't attend.

Hemming was from a loving home. He worked in a bottle shop.

He has Asperger's syndrome, but it was found to have played no role in the crime.

The judge said little is known of the disorder and medication might be developed to increase empathy levels, but for now Hemming had exceedingly poor prospects for rehabiliation.

She jailed him for 32 years, with a 27-year minimum.

Robert and Cheryl Adamson left behind two children.