TWO teenagers whose request for a cigarette in the street ended up with an alcoholic's death yesterday failed in a bid to have their sentences cut.

Daniel Lapin, now 20, was with Steven Clark, also now 20, when he struck David Bruce with two punches which led to him bleeding to death due to a rare liver condition.

Clark, of Renwick St, Walker, Newcastle, received three years in a young offenders institution after pleading guilty to robbery at Newcastle Crown Court on June 20 last year.

Lapin, whose address was not given, was sentenced to six years after pleading guilty to manslaughter and robbery. Lord Justice Tuckey refused both their sentence appeals at London's Court of Criminal Appeal.

The incident happened in August 2000 in Stanhope Street, Newcastle. Mr Bruce bled to death in intensive care two weeks later, of a rare liver condition, which prevented blood clotting