A MAN who led a vicious attack on a friend - described as little short of a planned lynching - yesterday failed to win a cut in his sentence.

Leslie Hope, 37, of Newfoundland Street, Darlington, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years at Teesside Crown Court on April 12 after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary and possessing a firearm.

London's Court of Appeal heard how he had armed himself with a knuckle-duster before he and others went to the victim's house, in December last year.

During the attack, the victim was severely beaten and was also stabbed, the court was told.

His defence team claimed his sentence was excessive because he had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had co-operated with police.

Dismissing the appeal, Mr Justice Davis, sitting with Mr Justice Gibbs, described the attack as little short of a planned lynching.

He concluded: "It was a planned, vicious attack and Hope was considerably the eldest of the three and the one who organised it.

"He knew there were weapons with the group - he himself had a knuckle-duster."