Michael Phillips' killers face total of 50 years behind bars for 'barbaric' attack

Lee Darby, 32, of Ridley Court, has been sentenced to 23 years for the murder of the 39-year-old in his own home.

Neil Elliott, 44, of Briarfield Close, has been sentenced to 15 years for his manslaughter and Anthony Small, 40, of Rydal Street, was given a 12-year sentence for manslaughter.

In handing out the sentences following a trial lasting seven weeks, Mr Justice Jacobs said no words of his could convey the tragedy for Mr Phillips’ family and the devastating impact this has had on his mother, brother and sister.

He said: “Mr Phillips had, sadly, struggled with drug addiction for much of his life, but he tried as best he could to overcome those problems and everything that I’ve heard in this trial indicates that he was, despite his problems, a decent man; a good person who had his life taken away, within the space of a few minutes in a brutal and barbaric attack.”

He said Mr Phillips had no involvement at all in the burglary of Elliott’s daughter and was just quietly watching television in his own home when he was killed.

The judge said one of the main causes for the attack was that he owned a blue coat and the person in the CCTV footage was wearing a similar blue coat.

However, he said: “Careful examination of the footage would have shown that whilst the coat many have been of a similar colour, it was of a different design.”

In sentencing Darby the judge said he was sure he took a knuckleduster to the scene and used it in committing the murder.

He said other aggravating factors included the degree of planning, deciding to help Elliott take the law into his own hands and his previous convictions for violence.

In sentencing Elliott the judge said he was sure that his intention that day was if he found those responsible for the burglary serious violence would be inflicted. He added that he played a leading role in the events and Mr Phillips’ death resulted from his deciding to take the law into this own hands.

Mr Justice Jacobs said he was sure Small knew enough about Darby to know he had a propensity for violence, having previously beaten up Small’s brother.

He said: “It was the result of your involvement that Mr Elliott and Mr Darby were able to get into that house.

“Your conduct was critical to their entry into Mr Phillips’ home and you bear a very significant responsibility for Michael Phillips’ death.”

He added: “I do not accept that you have shown any significant remorse.”

Darby was also sentenced to 12 months – to run concurrently – for having a stun gun and Elliott was sentenced to six months – to run concurrently – for the assault of Lee Hardwell.