THE loss of their “very brave and kind-hearted little lad” has “devastated” the Geeling family, Manchester Crown Court heard yesterday.

MICHAEL Hamer’s ferocious attack on “little angel” Joe Geeling was the culmination of a three-week plan by a “cold, calculated and scheming young man”.

MICHAEL HAMER had been planning to abduct Joe for at least three weeks even to the extent of practicing his letter-writing to lure his victim away from home.

THE name Michael Hamer will now be added to a list of children who have killed other youngsters.

Schoolboy killer Michael Hamer was given a life sentence in the UK today for the murder of 11-year-old cystic fibrosis sufferer Joe Geeling.