A TWIN who appeared on the controversial Jeremy Kyle TV show days after knifing a man to death in the street was jailed for life today.

Murder victim Paul Gilbert, 22, pleaded for his life as he was chased by 25-year-olds Philip and Mark Craggs through Newcastle's East End in February this year.

Philip Craggs, of Walker, Newcastle, knifed the drunk, but happy father-to-be three times, and he died a fortnight later having never regained consciousness.

He must serve a minimum of 15-and-a-half years before he can apply for parole, after admitting murder.

Mark Craggs, of Willington Quay, North Tyneside, started the chase and tripped the terrified victim before punching him as he lay on the ground, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He was jailed for 21 months after admitting affray. A murder charge against him was dropped at an earlier hearing.

The pair had filmed the Jeremy Kyle Show in the November before the attack and were featured because Philip accused Mark of having an affair with his fiancee.

On February 12, the day before the attack, they were informed that the programme-makers it would be shown on February 18.

With Mr Gilbert barely clinging to life in hospital on a ventilator, the show was broadcast, and a friend of the victim told ITV that the twins faced a serious allegation.

ITV promised that the show would not be repeated.

Mr Gilbert died a fortnight after he was stabbed, but the show was repeated in May, causing Mr Gilbert's family much distress.

His baby son, to his girlfriend Lindsey Neil, was born in August, and named after his father.

The twins admitted their respective roles in the attack at a hearing earlier this month.

Philip Craggs was carrying a knife because he was fearful after he himself was stabbed 22 times and lost an eye in a street attack in October 2006, the court heard.

Mark Craggs, feeling protective about his twin, confronted Mr Gilbert after he believed his brother had been pushed.

Initially, Mr Gilbert offered to take both brothers on, but ran off when he saw Philip Craggs pull out a knife.

As he ran for his life, witnesses heard Mr Gilbert apologise to the twins.

Mark Craggs tripped him, allowing his twin to catch up and join in.

The court heard Mark Craggs was unaware his brother had stabbed Mr Gilbert, or that he had a knife.

Both defendants were heroin addicts, but the court heard Mark Craggs had kicked the habit some years ago.

Judge David Hodson told Philip Craggs: "You cannot escape the undoubted truth that if you had not been carrying the knife, Mr Gilbert would not have been killed.

"I regard the unlawful carrying of the knife in public place as a particularly significant aggravating factor."

Paul Sloan QC, defending Mark Craggs, said: "He now has to live with the realisation that if he had not chased after the deceased at that point, then the deceased would still be alive today and his own brother would not be about to embark upon a life sentence."

An ITV spokeswoman said the call from Mr Gilbert's friend after the show was first broadcast was the first production knew of the incident.

"The show was meant to be red-lined (which means it was not to be shown again) but it was repeated in error on May 15.

"We apologised to the victims family and assured them that it would not be shown again."