Life for murder trio

12:48pm Monday 11th February 2008

THREE teenagers have been jailed for life for the murder of Garry Newlove.

Judge Andrew Smith handed down the sentences at Chester Crown Court shortly before 1pm.

Adam Swellings, aged 19, from Crewe, will serve a life sentence with a minimum of 17 years before being considered for parole.

Stephen Sorton, aged 17, from Honister Avenue in Orford, will also serve life and a minimum of 15 years.

Jordan Cunliffe, aged 16, from Roland Close, Cinammon Brow, will also serve life and a minimum of 12 years.

The judge said: "Each of you attacked and behaved aggressively.

"I must consider the effect on them (Mr Newlove's daughters) of such a horrific experience at such a young age and the effect on Mrs Newlove."

His daughters Zoe, Danielle and Amy saw the attack as did wife Helen.

Judge Smith told the court while they had not gone out that night to kill Mr Newlove, they had gone out to act violently.

He said of Sorton: "You indulged your taste for gratuitous violence earlier that evening and it was part of the night's entertainment."

And he told Cunliffe: "You were bragging and shouting and showing no remorse."

Both Swellings and Cunliffe cried when they were lead out of the dock to begin their sentences.

The mothers of the thee teens were also in tears as they sat together to hear their sons' fates.

Mr Newlove was kicked and punched to death outside his Fearnhead home in August.

The trial has heard he was "kicked like a football" while he lay on the ground.

He had left his home to investigate the vandalism of his wife's car.