A BRUTAL thug who beat a Renfrew dad to death has been caged for nine years...after he was snared by his distinctive Nike trainers.

Jamie Anderson, 36, battered 37-year-old Paul Mathieson and left him lying bleeding in the street.

He was eventually caught after a painstaking five-month investigation by detectives which included an appeal by Mr Mathieson's family.

READ MORE: Sister of Paul Mathieson fights to change the law on post-mortems

Police examined hours of CCTV footage to piece together Mr Mathieson's last movements and interviewed everyone who was in contact with him.

This produced a list of 22 suspects, including Anderson.

When officers searched Anderson's home and examined the clothes and shoes he was wearing that night, DNA was found on the stitching and welt of the right trainer.

The distinctive rear flash of the trainers was also captured on grainy CCTV footage of the killing.

Yesterday, at the High Court in Glasgow, Anderson admitted killing dad-of-one Mr Mathieson by punching him, causing him to fall to the ground, and kicking and punching him on the head and neck in Houston Street, Renfrew, on January 14 last year.

Mr Mathieson died from his injuries at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, in Glasgow, six days later.

Anderson was originally charged with murder but prosecutor Jane Farquharson QC accepted his guilty plea to a reduced charge of culpable homicide.

Footage from CCTV that was played in court showed Mr Mathieson, who was carrying a pizza box, and his killer embracing and going their separate ways on the night in question.

Seconds later, Mr Mathieson put down his pizza box, with the court being told Anderson thought he was going to attack him.

Anderson then knocked Mr Mathieson to the ground and, as he lay there helpless, kicked and punched him before walking off.

Miss Farquharson said: “Mr Mathieson has been described as volatile and verbally aggressive when under the influence of alcohol.”

The court heard that, at different times, the two men had dated Gillian Carswell.

She sent a message to Mr Mathieson on social media at 1am on January 13 last year, which read: “Jamie's just left, he was saying to me u were telling him I was doing ur nut in always coming to your door n phoning n asking for money?"

Defence QC John Scullion told the court: “The two men met for the first time a few days prior to this incident. It became clear they had both been involved in a relationship with Miss Carswell.

"She had a history of playing partners off against one another and there appears to have been an element of this.

“Mr Mathieson was annoyed at the accused for telling her about the conversation they had had but they embraced and the incident appeared to be over.”

The court was told that, as they went to go their separate ways, Mr Mathieson put his pizza down on the roof of a parked car and walked back towards Anderson.

Mr Scullion said: “Mr Mathieson shouted 'You're getting snipered,' which the accused thought meant he was going to be attacked.”

The court heard Anderson then attacked Mr Mathieson, whose cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma to the head and neck.

READ MORE: Sister of tragic Paul Mathieson welcomes changes to release of body

Judge Lord Armstrong told Anderson: “The loss to Mr Mathieson's family will be severe and long-lasting.”

Anderson, of Bank Street, Paisley, showed no emotion as he was led away to begin his sentence.