THE sister of a homeless man kicked to death in a churchyard by two schoolboys spoke of her anger at the length of their sentences.

June Akers said she felt the two 15-year-olds responsible for the death of her brother should be locked up for life.

The pair were each sentenced to seven-and-a-half years detention for the manslaughter of George Akers.

The 59-year-old suffered a painful death after receiving 39 fractures to all but one of his ribs, following a sustained beating on the evening of June 11.

Mr Justice Treacy, sentencing at Teesside Crown Court yesterday, did not lift the reporting restrictions on the case, meaning the boys cannot be named. They have been known throughout as Defendant One and Defendant Two.

Defendant Two was ordered to serve an extra four-and-ahalf years on licence on his release, due to his previous convictions and propensity to violence and aggression.

They jointly beat homeless Mr Akers to death under the tree where he slept at St Cuthbert’s Churchyard, in Darlington.

However, the murder trial jury decided they did not intend to cause him really serious injury and returned a unanimous verdict of manslaughter on December 6.

Mr Akers’ sister said last night: “The boys should have been given life, because that is what they have taken away.”

And she criticised the decision to allow the boys to retain their anonymity, adding: “I still can’t get any peace after this decision, I need to know who they are, as do other people.

“They are clearly dangerous and will be out before they are 20.”

Mr Justice Treacy did not accept the differing version of events given by the teenagers, which involved George Akers provoking them before the attack.

“There were a number of kicks and stamps from both of you and when feet are used in this manner, it is equal to using a weapon,” said Mr Justice Treacy.

“George Akers was a harmless individual, he was not an aggressive or violent man.”

Mr Justice Treacy said that Defendant Two, who has three previous convictions for minor assaults, was a disturbed boy.

He added: “Your emotional instability is such that when you are angry you have difficulty containing that aggression.

I think there is a significant risk of you re-offending and I am satisfied that you pose a significant risk of harm to others.”

His barrister, Eric Elliot QC, said: “He is a victim of life and was involved in a terrible family tragedy.

“It is awfully sad that a boy of 15 feels like he has lost everything, but that is the situation he finds himself in.”

Defendant One has no previous convictions, but his barrister, Neil Davey QC, said he has had a troubled upbringing.

Mr Davey added: “This is a boy, in terms of his emotional development, who is much younger than his 15 years.

“He has made progress since he has been on remand.

The pre-sentence report says that he is now an understanding young man, who is a good influence on the group at his detention centre.”

DCI Paul Goundry, from Durham Police’s Major Crime Team, said last night: “I’m glad justice has been done for George and his family.

“There is no winner in this case. Two 15-year-old boys have been sent to prison for a very long time and have devastated their families.

“We are going to try to make sure that such a despicable set of circumstances do not arise again.”