Widow 'disgusted' killer was bailed

Helen Newlove's husband Garry, 47, was kicked to death by a gang of youths who had spent the day drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis.

Sales manager Mr Newlove, a father of three daughters, had left his home in Warrington, Cheshire, to confront the teenagers, who had been vandalising his wife's car.

Three teenagers - Adam Swellings, 19, of Meredith Street, Crewe, Stephen Sorton, 17, of Honister Avenue, Warrington, and Jordan Cunliffe, 16, formerly of Rowland Close, Warrington - were found guilty of his murder at Chester Crown Court.

A 15-year-old and a 17-year-old were cleared of murder after the jury deliberated for a marathon 55 hours and 25 minutes.

After the verdict, it emerged Swellings had been released from custody for an assault just hours before the attack.

He was freed on condition he stay away from Warrington but Swellings never left the town. Instead he met up with Sorton and Cunliffe and began their drink and drugs binge.

Mrs Newlove said: "We knew he had previous convictions but it was a shock to myself and to my family to hear he had been released that day. I'm absolutely disgusted.

"These magistrates, it's unbelievable. They let him out and they walk the streets. He's not taken a blind bit of notice of the conditions of bail. He's gone out, got drunk and taken drugs and my husband has been left dead."

During the five-week trial at Chester Crown Court, the prosecution told the jurors Mr Newlove was punched to the ground and kicked "as if he were a football". He never regained consciousness and died at Warrington Hospital two days later.