Security alert at murder appeal

Mother's agony after murder Party night that ended in murder

A security alert has been sparked at London's Royal Courts of Justice as two teenagers who murdered Swansea student Ben Bellamy had their sentences upheld.

Ben's father John Bellamy ran to the bars of the dock to tell his son's killers to "rot in hell" after the dismissal of their sentence appeals.

Joel Taylor, 18, and Joshua Thomas, 16, were given life for robbing and beating Ben, 17, and leaving him to drown.

They were convicted at Swansea Crown Court jury of killing Ben in 2005.

At the end of the trial last June, Andrew Rafferty, 18, was cleared of Ben's murder but convicted of manslaughter. He is serving a minimum of five years.

John Bellamy ran at the dock and shouted "rot in hell"

Taylor, of Taliesyn Road, Townhill, and Thomas, of Llewellyn Road, Penllergaer, both in Swansea, had appeals against their jail terms thrown out by three appeal court judges.

Moments later family members applauded and cheered as Mr Bellamy tried to get at the pair through the bars of the dock. He was heard to shout "rot in hell", as he was led away by court staff.

After the hearing was over, the entire Royal Courts of Justice had to be evacuated after a fire alarm was set off.

Ben, from Sketty Park, Swansea, was walking home after a night out in Cinderella's club in Mumbles when he started talking to the three and was invited to walk with them.

Joel Taylor (left) and Joshua Thomas were convicted of murder

He was later dragged onto the beach and attacked by all three.

Rafferty used his elbow to keep him on the ground, with the other two kicked and stamped on his head and body.

His battered body was then dragged into the sea. Ben's body was discovered by a man walking his dog along the shoreline the following morning.

Rafferty, the trial at Swansea Crown Court heard, left the beach during the attack to try to use Ben's cash card.

After they were found guilty in June last year, Judge Justice Roderick Evans told Taylor and Thomas they had committed an "act of cold-blooded and calculated evil of a kind it is difficult to comprehend".

Andrew Rafferty was found guilty of manslaughter

"You took Ben Bellamy out into the sea to a depth of one metre and you drowned him. It was a determined cold killing."

He added: "On the evidence before the court Ben Bellamy was a decent, popular and academically able 17-year-old.

"He had a promising life ahead of him until he met the three of you. His killing has profoundly affected this city."

Dismissing the appeals on Wednesday, Lord Justice Maurice Kay said: "In a written judgment which will be handed down in the next week, both of these appeals will be dismissed."

Even after Taylor's and Thomas's tariffs expire, neither will be released unless they can persuade the Parole Board they pose no risk to the public.

If they are freed they will remain on perpetual "life licence", subject to prison recall if they put a foot wrong.