THE mothers of Garry Newlove's murderers have launched an astonishing defence of their sons.
Adam Swellings, 19, Stephen Sorton, 17, and Jordan Cunliffe, 16, kicked the Warrington dad-of-three to death last year.
Now, as the gang begin life sentences, the mums of Swellings and Sorton have heaped further torment on the grieving family of Mr Newlove.
Sorton's mother Margaret defended the trio of thugs, describing them as `decent'. She said her son was `not as bad as he's being made out to be'. And she said the killing, `a thing which went tragically wrong', destroyed her life.
Mrs Sorton, 42, was also reported as saying that neighbours in Orford, Warrington, had been supportive because they know `the good things' about her son. Describing herself as `annoyed and bitter' about the murder, she said that she and her son felt sympathy for Mr Newlove's widow, Helen.
Meanwhile, Sue Swellings, 43, has said she will use Legal Aid to launch an appeal against her son's conviction - and will buy the best legal team possible. She said: "I still
love Adam because he is mine and nothing will ever change that. I have spoken to him in jail and he is doing fine."
Mr Newlove was confronting the gang about vandalism to his wife's car on August 10 when he was set upon. He ended up in a coma. He died two days later.
Assault
When Swellings, the ringleader of the attackers, was found guilty it emerged he had been released on bail for an assault on another householder hours before the attack on condition he stay away from Warrington.
He ignored the court order. Since the trio were found guilty, Mrs Newlove, 45, has become an outspoken voice on youth crime and justice.
The judge at Chester Crown Court sentenced Swellings to a minimum of 17 years, Sorton to 15 years and Cunliffe to 12. Afterwards Mrs Newlove said: "I watched them as they walked into court and I didn't see a flicker of emotion or remorse from them."
"If I could push the button on an electric chair, if I could deliver a lethal injection, I wouldn't hesitate."
Mrs Newlove also said parents should be prosecuted for failing to keep their children under control.
She said: "Parents should take responsibility for their children. Garry and myself have brought up three girls together to respect other people and to be home, not walking the streets causing damage and intimidating other people by drinking and abusive language.
"What these people need to understand is that it could be their partners or parents that it happens to. Until this society stops thinking about number one, we should all try and pull together to stop these youth gangs going on rampages.
"Attacking people verbally and physically under the influence of drink and drugs does not, in any way, justify their actions.
"Parents have to face up to their responsibilities. Having children is unconditional and there is no time limit to it."
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HUH!!!!!
its great this childs mum is sticking up for him but
she is clearly heart broken and does not have a clue what she is saying..
if she thinks her son is not as bad as they are made out to be.. i would hate to think what they need to do to make them be seen as bad.
Its quite obvious this woman is blind to the crime that him and his fellow lowlifes have committed. RIP Gary Newlove.
This is the vreason we need the death penalty to stop these monsters tormenting the victims for years to come.
`a thing which went tragically wrong'Was the 'thing' just a bit of harmless vandalising of cars or was 'the thing' perhaps just a bit of playful headkicking that went a tad wrong? Perhaps a misdirected kick that wasn't supposed to kill someone, just leave him beat up?
Apart from the above I bet he was a decent lad as his mother suggests. Shame we all got the wrong opinionisn't it.
How can we solve the problems in society like this when even after a murder their parents can see no wrong in their kids?
Given the upbringing of these two louts was the responsibility of these two "mothers" they should be in the dock too.
Whilst some might expect nothing less than defence, to speak about it publically, too seak legal aid, and then pose for photos... Well its clear where Sorton and Swellings get their sense of judgememnt from.
Great, they are going to get the best legal team that my money can buy i.e. legal aid are they?
Sounds to me they are just ordinary common or garden thugs but their mothers love them, what a pity they didn't love them a bit more and tell them kicking a man to death whilst drunk is wrong.
I can understand a mothers love for her son, hence her comments. She's misguided through her love. She may one day understand that her son isn't the angel she thinks he is. Did she really know what he was up to when he left the house? No, I don’t think so.
If this goes in front of an appeal court, she may be tempting fate, as appeal courts can higher a sentence too as well as lower. I personally think all the sentences were too low, so I wonder what a court will think?
`a thing which went tragically wrong'
The only thing that went 'wrong' in this killing is that they are caught but not put to death.
Oh the little darlings can do no wrong in mummy's eyes.
these 3 mothers should be thoroughly ashamed of thier kids and want punishing themselves for the terrible job theyve done of dragging their kids up.
What I want to know is the lad who got out of the police sttion the morning of the killing, where the hell was his mother then. If my son was in the police station I would be dragging him home for a good hiding the minute he got out, no way would he be left to his own devices roaming the streets. instead of spending money on 'the best' legal teams theyd be better spending it on some parentui
that last post of mine should of ended. 'parenting classes'.
This beggars belief. It is exactly this sort of parental failure to recognize a problem that has led to these kids turning out as cowardly, murderous scum in the first place. If my kids were to turn out like that, I would blame no-one but myself, and I certainly wouldn't dream of using taxpayers' money to launch an appeal.
Sue Swellings, 43, has said she will use Legal Aid to launch an appeal against her son's conviction - and will buy the best legal team possible.
No she won't "buy" the best legal team, it will be the tax-payer paying for it and not Ms. Swellings. Although I can understand mothers defending their children in this case these mothers' have got to accept that these thugs who they call there sons have been found guilty and convicted of the murder of an innocent man and have destroyed the lives of his family. I hope that the courts refuse leave to appeal as I don't want my hard earned money being paid out to defend the indefensible.
Why would'nt she stick up for her son, to admit he is a thug that should rot in jail the rest of his life means she has to admit her failing as a mother, Mrs Newlove is right where are the parents?
"And she said the killing, `a thing which went tragically wrong', destroyed her life."
forgive me... but can this sort of behaviour ever end well??!! I know parents will always support their children, she would be better keeping her own counsel..... the victims are Garry and HIS family, comments like this just comopund their grief. No doubt this "Decent" youth will be back out on the streets in ten years , unlike his victim.
Ok there Mums,
but the boys killed an innocent man, no grouns for an appeal, let them do their time all of it!
Mrs Newlove and her daughters will suffer for the rest of their lives due to these thugs, where were the loving Mothers then?
17, 15, 12 years isnt life.
Are comments that agree with the mothers the only ones allowed? My previous one seems to have not made it through. Same old, same old.
Mrs Newlove; you have my deepest sympathy for your loss !. As for the other mothers, i also have pity for you but, had these lads been brought up with discipline & respect they would not be where they are now !. where are the fathers of these young boys ??.
Here we go, parents blind to the fact their son's are obnoxious, evil blights on society. Had my son ever behaved in a manner which offended or injured a third party, I would have handed him over to the police myself!!!! Then disowned him, no matter how hard the decision!!! Mrs Swellings and Mrs Sorton, accept the fact through your poor parenting, you have bred two evil thugs who deserve to locked up for a very long time. I can only say that I hope the application for legal aid to appeal this sentence is refused!!! Why should decent, law abiding tax payers support this. They are locked up now for the safety of every human being in the area, I hope they suffer till the end of their sentence, personally prison is too good for them, bring back hanging!!!!
typical!!!! your son has done wrong and now you have the nerve to use taxpayers money launching an appeal. CAN'T DO THE TIME DONT DO THE CRIME
What sickening comments. "Decent"! Do you know the meaning of decent. I can tell you, MURDERER does not sit next to the word decent in the Oxford English Dictionary.
TYPICAL !!! i dont know how you've got the nerve to use taxpayers money (legal aid) to launch an appeal. IF YOU CAN'T DO THE TIME DON'T DO THE CRIME
Mrs Newlove is correct. The parents of these pathetic thugs should also be prosecuted. These remarks by these so-called parents (swellings/sorton) rub salt into an already wounded society.
Mrs swelling has a funny and twisted idea of justice considering her child was involved in a killing of a innocent man.No wonder our children are growing up becomming killers when we have some parents like her who defends killers as decent people.BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY TO TO THESE PEOPLE HURTING THE INNOCENT EVEN MORE.By insulting gary newloves family by saying these twisted word.
Using legal aid for an appeal, that says it all really, has she not got a job, why should us taxpayers pay for this? This country has gone soft on thugs, no doubt they will not do the full term, will be pampered in prison and when released will be treated like returning heroes by their uneducated families. One says she is upset and bitter about the case, at least she will see her son, what about the wife and daughters of Garry?