A homophobic Margate thug who tried to kill his openly gay teenage flatmate in a horrific hammer attack has been jailed for 14 years today.

Joseph Williams, 21, left the weapon embedded in the skull of 18-year-old Connor Huntley as he slept at the two-bedroom apartment in Cliftonville.

Mr Huntley, who often wore women's clothes and make-up, was lucky to survive after an operation to remove the hammer, bone fragments and a blood clot.

Incredible X-ray images show the claw hammer embedded in Mr Huntley's skull. He now suffers from epilepsy and can no longer live independently, the Old Bailey heard.

Williams, who had made "disparaging comments about gay people" in the past, claimed he was suffering from mental illness at the time of the attack in Athelstan Road.

He was convicted of attempted murder by the unanimous verdict of the jury and will begin his sentence in a psychiatric unit.

Judge Jeremy Donne QC said: "The injuries suffered by Connor Huntley were little short of catastrophic, they have been life changing.

"It's fortunate in the extreme for him that he did not die. That's only down to the skill of the medical personal treating him.

"But he will never be able to live an independent life, never enjoy the things young people enjoy doing. You have taken away a good part of his life."

The judge said Williams had depression and was developing schizophrenia at the time of the attack, but that was not all that was behind his assault.

"Your dangerousness goes beyond your mental illness," he said. "This sentence is principally designed to protect the public from you."

Mr Huntley had been robbed of his independence after the attack and now suffers from regular nightmares, the court heard.

When asked about a 2014 New Year's resolution, he replied: "Not to die."

"The right side of his body had been affected and his movement had been affected," said the prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC.

"He suffers from epilepsy and has described symptoms of depression.

"The nightmares he described occur about three times a week and he went on to described the effects on his life."

Mr Huntley, who formerly lived in Dover and was a student at Archers Court School, said in his victim impact statement: "I can't drink because I've got epilepsy, I can't go clubbing in case I have a fit because of the lighting system.

"I can't spent the night at my friend's house, I can't go out on my own.

"I can't withdraw money from my bank account because someone has got my bank card."

The judge added: "It is clear he will never be able to live independently.

"I've seen photographs of him post-recovery where a large section of his head is still missing as a result of the decompression of the brain."

DI Richard Vickery, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "This was a nasty and seemingly unprovoked attack, with Williams striking Connor on the head whilst he was defenceless and asleep. It is only due to the skills of medical staff that Connor is alive today.

"Connor has suffered life-changing injuries and I hope that today's verdict will assist Connor and his family to move forward and concentrate on improving his quality of life, both physically and psychologically."

A statement released by Mr Huntley's family said: "Whilst Connor is making slow but steady progress from this horrific ordeal, we feel he has been handed his own life sentence by this hideous act.

"No one deserves to be so viciously attacked in such an evil manner, regardless of race, age, gender or sexuality."

Jurors heard how Williams and Mr Huntley appeared to "get on like a house on fire" when they first met.

But Mr Huntley's best friend, Abbie Smith, said Williams had also hinted at violence.

"He said, just out of the blue, that he couldn't live with Connor because he would end up hitting him," she said.

"We were not having a conversation about Connor, he just said it. I stuck up for my friend a bit, saying he had done nothing wrong. But that was left at that."

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC told the court: "They were not the obvious flatmates."

On the morning of 27 May last year, Williams let Mr Huntley into the flat in Athelstan Road before returning to his girlfriend's home.

Williams only returned at around 5.10am and 40 minutes later he sent a series of text messages reading: 'Help'.

When Abbie Smith arrived at 10.30am, Williams told her Mr Huntley was still asleep.

He then made a 999 call and told the operator: "I don't know how to say this, but he's dead in my flat. I hit him on the head with a hammer in his sleep."

Asked if there was a reason he had done it, he replied: "No, my mental health just deteriorated."

Police arrived to find Mr Huntley lying on an air bed with the hammer embedded in his skull.

Mr Huntley had suffered a depressed skull fracture and traumatic brain injury.

An expert concluded at least two blows must have been inflicted with severe force.

Williams made no comment in police interview, but later claimed he could not remember the attack.

His barrister told jurors he was unable to form the intent to kill or cause serious bodily harm because of a depressive disorder.

But prosecution psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph said Williams did not have a psychotic illness at the time and was likely to be feigning amnesia.

Williams, of Athelstan Road, denied attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Judge Donne said Williams will be locked up in a mental health hospital until he is fit to go to prison.