Newlove killers granted appeal

Swellings and Sorton were convicted of murder in February

Two youths convicted of kicking a father-of-three to death outside his Cheshire home have been granted leave to appeal.

Adam Swellings, 19, of Crewe, the ringleader of the gang accused of attacking Garry Newlove, will appeal against conviction and his sentence.

Gang member Stephen Sorton, 17, will appeal against his 15 year jail term.

They were jailed after a court heard Mr Newlove, 47, was kicked "like a football" outside his Warrington home.

The attack took place in August 2007 after he had remonstrated with a gang of youths who had vandalised his wife's car.

A third member of the gang - Jordan Cunliffe, 16, formerly of Warrington - was also jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 12 years.

Mr Newlove was kicked "like a football" in the attack, the court heard

Mr Newlove, a plastics company salesman, was attacked as his three daughters, aged 18, 16 and 13, looked on.

Following the convictions, it emerged that Swellings had been released from custody for an assault just hours before the attack.

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

He met up with accomplices Sorton and Cunliffe before beginning a drink and drugs binge.

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service in Cheshire 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's murder sparked a national debate about Britain's so-called yob culture.