The family of a man murdered by a gang he caught burgling his Kent home say they hope his killers stay behind bars for the rest of their lives.

Mark Elliot, Curtis Delima and Gerry Cusden were locked up for a toal of 59 years for the brutal crime. A judge said they were "like a pack of hyenas" in the way they turned on the father-of-three from Whitstable and inflicted fatal injuries.

The 47-year-old's sister, Lorraine Rigden, said outside court: "Life should mean life. They should die in there for what they did."

Carly Curry, Mr Witherall's eldest daughter, echoed the sentiment saying: "They took a life so they should get life."

Another sister, Claire Witherall, said: "I hope that wherever it is they're going they rot."

** Listen to more reaction the family gave kmfm by clicking on the link at the top of this page - first Carly Curry, then Claire Witherall and finally Lorraine Rigden.**

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Mr Witherall was attacked after his home in King Edward Street was broken into on January 27 last year.

He was struck with a builder’s spirit level and kicked and punched in the street outside. He was taken to hospital with brain damage but never regained consciousness and died about six weeks later.

Judge Timothy Pontius said the fact that the three men, all from the town, were wearing trainers underlined the extent and savagery of the brutal force behind the kicks that lead to Mr Witherall suffering massive internal injury.

After the convictions, the senior investigator, Det Insp Ian Rogerson described the murder as "shocking".

He added: "His family had to watch Mark die over a long period of time and this has left them devastated. I hope that now the court proceedings are over, they can begin to rebuild their lives."

Elliott, 21, was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years, 19-year-old Delima to 20 years and 16-year-old Cusden to the lesser term of 16 years because of his age. Cusden can be named for the first time after the judge decided it was in the public interest to lift an order banning identification of those under the age of 18.

All three denied murder but were convicted after an eight-week trial.

Elliott, of Sandpiper Road, also denied conspiracy to burgle, but was convicted. Cusden, of Sydenham Road, and Delima, of Regent Street, admitted the charge.

Elliott's girlfriend, Carley Firminger, 20, of Sandpiper Road, was acquitted of murder.