Teenage murderer gets leave to appeal

11:31am Thursday 29th May 2008

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TWO of the drunken yobs jailed for life after being convicted of Garry Newlove's murder have been granted leave to appeal.

The ringleader of the gang, 19-year-old Adam Swellings from Meredith Street in Crewe, known as 'Swellhead', was ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years behind bars after being found guilty at Chester Crown Court in January of the murder of the Fearnhead father-of-three last August.

Judith Edwards, spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service, confirmed that Swellings has been granted leave to appeal both his conviction and sentence.

She also confirmed that fellow gang member, Stephen Sorton, aged 17, of Honister Avenue in Orford has also been granted leave to appeal against his minimum 15 year sentence.

Sorton, known as 'Snowy', lodged his application with the Court of Appeal in April, a month after Swellings applied for his appeal.

The date of their hearing has not yet been set.

Jordan Cunliffe, aged 16, from Rowland Close in Cinammon Brow was also jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 12 years for Mr Newlove's murder.