Freedom within a year for the five thugs who stoned a father to death

A judge told the youths, aged 12 to 14, that their "violent unprovoked attack" on Ernest Norton was "mindless violence".

But after hearing about their backgrounds, he imposed a sentence of just two years - of which they are expected to serve only half.

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Judge Warwick McKinnon said he had the boys' welfare in mind as he sentenced them for manslaughter.

They were found guilty in August after a five-week trial.

Mr Norton, 67, was playing cricket with his teenage son James at a leisure centre in February last year when the gang began spitting, abusing and hurling rocks at them.

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One missile the size of half a brick hit Mr Norton on the face and shattered his cheekbone.

He then collapsed and died of a heart attack in front of his son.

The gang ran away cackling: "He's dead, he's dead."

Judge McKinnon, who left his wig off during the trial to make the boys feel more relaxed, handed down the sentence at the Old Bailey yesterday.

Minutes earlier he had heard a harrowing impact statement read out on behalf of Mr Norton's widow Linda, 56, a bank worker from Erith, Kent.

She said her daughter Gemma, 26, still needed counselling and was devastated that her father had not lived to see the birth of his granddaughter, Ceinwen, two months ago.

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James, 18, had decided to stay at home instead of going to university so he could support his family.

Victims of Crime Trust director Norman Brennan, a serving police officer with 29 years' experience, said: "The maximum sentence for manslaughter is life - and to get just a year is an insult to the memory of Mr Norton.

"Unless the Government wakes up to how out-of-control feral children like these are running amok, Ernest Norton will not be the last innocent victim.

"Children like these have already become hardened criminals responsible for the most heinous of crimes, and sentences like this do not punish or deter them."

The court had heard that the youths, one of whom was just ten at the time, belonged to a gang called The New Estate and had been in a group of around 20 looking for trouble on the Sunday of the attack.

Some later boasted to friends of the incident and during their trial displayed little remorse, having playfights and racing up the stairs until the judge had to reprimand their parents.

Barrister Nicholas Valios QC, representing the youngest boy, said the attack had developed "out of boredom and an opportunity to have a bit of a laugh".

Mr Valios added: "This is not only the youngest of the five defendants but probably one of the youngest to stand trial in this court."

Judge McKinnon told the youths, who cannot be named because of their age, that they had "hyped themselves up" by breaking windows and vandalising property before the attack.

"Your behaviour was utterly disgraceful and criminally irresponsible," he said.

"This is a bad case but sentencing ones as young as each of you I must have your welfare in mind as I do.

"I take into account your youth, your remorse and lack of previous convictions as well as the low level of risk each of you pose in the future.

"But this is a disgraceful story."

The boys, who are all from Erith and Slade Green in Kent, wept with their parents before being led to the cells yesterday.

All are appealing their convictions.