Two of Garry Newlove's murderers granted leave to appeal

May 22 2008

Adam Swellings and Stephen Sorton - convicted of murdering father-of-three Garry Newlove _320

TWO youths convicted of murdering father-of-three Garry Newlove have been granted leave to appeal.

Adam Swellings, 19, who was the ringleader of the gang which kicked the father-of-three to death, will appeal against both his conviction and his minimum 17-year jail term.

Fellow gang member Stephen Sorton, 17, has been granted permission to appeal against his minimum 15-year term.

A spokeswoman for Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service said: "We have been notified that Swellings will appeal against both conviction and sentence and Sorton will appeal against his sentence.

"No date has been set for the appeal hearings."

Mr Newlove, 47, a salesman with a plastics company, was killed outside his home in Station  Road North, Warrington, last August after he confronted a gang about vandalism.

He was kicked "like a football" by the youths, the murder trial at Chester Crown Court heard.

Mr Newlove’s daughters Zoe, 18, Danielle, 16, and Amy, 13 saw the attack on their father.

It later emerged after the pair, and 16-year-old , were found guilty in January that Swellings had been released from custody for an assault just hours before the attack on August 10.

He was freed on bail on condition he stayed away from Warrington, but remained in the town despite the court order.

Jordan Cunliffe, 16, was also convicted of the attack.

Mr Newlove’s widow, Helen, launched a campaign for more to be done to stop youth gangs going on violent, drink-fuelled rampages against law-abiding people.

Swellings, of Meredith Street, Crewe, Sorton, of Honister Avenue, Warrington, and Cunliffe, formerly of Warrington, were found guilty after the jury deliberated for more than 55 hours.

A 15-year-old and a 17-year-old were cleared of murder and manslaughter following the six-week trial.

During the trial, Swellings admitted throwing the first punch at Mr Newlove and originally pleaded guilty to manslaughter. But that plea was rejected by the prosecution.

A trainer belonging to Sorton was found lodged under Mr Newlove as he lay dying on the pavement, jurors were told.

Cunliffe, who bragged about the attack to his friends, was jailed for a minimum of 12 years.