THE mother and daughter of Paul ‘Jona’ Jones say their lives have been ‘destroyed’ following his murder in Barry last year.

Judge Mr Justice Wyn Williams last week sentenced John Austin Chivers to life imprisonment, after a Cardiff Crown Court jury found him guilty of murdering 41-year-old Paul, better known as Jona, at Columbus Close, in Barry, on August 3 last year.

Chivers will not be eligible to apply for parole until he has served a minimum of 18 years behind bars.

Judge Williams told the 30-year-old car salesman: "You must realise your actions have deprived three children of their father, and nothing can compensate them for that."

Jona’s mum Maria, 65, said Chivers had ‘ruined two families’ lives’ and she hoped he would ‘rot’ for taking away her much-loved son and best friend She said: "Paul’s intentions in life were always to make people happy, to be the best friend that he could be, and to be the best father and son he could be.

"Paul was my confidante, my sounding board – and I don’t know how I am going to live without him.

"I had to suffer the pain of knowing I couldn’t hold him one last time, kiss his face, touch his hand, run my fingers through his hair and tell him just how much I love him."

Daughter Aaisha, 17, said her dad was always there for her and younger sister Sherney, 13 - but their brother Michael, born on New Year’s Day 2010, would never know him.

"My dad was my world," said Aaisha.

"I loved him so much.

"I sit here thinking about him every day.

"I don’t know where I am without him."

Following the trial, Jona’s mum, sisters, and brother Phillip, 45, said they were pleased with the verdict and sentence, and thanked the police and family liaison officers for their support.

But speaking about Chivers, Jona’s younger sister Sharon Jones, 38, said: "He is still breathing and his mother will still get to speak to him and see him."

Elder sister Angela Hobbs, 47, said he was lucky not to be serving 25 years as he committed the offence before the introduction of new sentencing guidelines in March this year.

She added: "We appreciate the bravery of all those who stood up and told the truth to the police and the court, to help ensure justice was done for Jona."