The family of a dad beaten to death in his own home have told of their disgust after his killer escaped a murder conviction.

Eddie Worton, 31, was discovered dead with severe head injuries in February this year and brothers Arron and Vincent Ward were later charged with his murder.

But Vincent walked free from court this week and Arron was allowed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The decision has stunned Mr Worton’s family, who travelled up to Manchester Crown Court on Monday expecting a two-week murder trial.

His mum Claire said: “All we wanted was justice for Ed and now we feel let down.

“We’re disgusted with what’s happened and the outcome. We don’t feel like we’ve been given justice as a family for the loss we suffered.”

Mr Worton, who grew up in Canterbury and went to the Chaucer School, had become a father to twins Edward and Poppy just six months before he was killed.

He and partner Michelle Bork had been trying to conceive for five years and were eventually successful after IVF treatment.

Arron Ward, 28, admitted killing Eddie Worton during a row at the latter’s house in Middleton, Greater Manchester.

He attacked him with a weapon, possibly a pick axe handle, and lost control, the court heard.

Ward, from Middleton, was facing a murder charge but on the morning of his trial pleaded guilty to manslaughter, with prosecutors accepting the lesser charge.

Ward’s younger brother Vincent, 27, was also charged with murder, but was cleared after Arron Ward admitted the killing.

Emotions rode high as the defendants stood side by side in the dock.

The scene where Edward Worton was found dead

Mr Worton's sister Katie, 31, said: “Someone is going to have to explain to those children when they’re older what happened to their daddy and what happened to the man who killed him.

“Even if he gets the maximum sentence he could be out walking the streets in six or seven years.

“Ed’s two children will only be seven and we’ll be left to explain that to them.

"We had been preparing for a two-week murder trial and didn’t know anything about this until we got to court.

“We were just pulled into a side room and told this is what’s going to happen and you don’t have a say in it. We couldn’t believe it. It was such a shock.

“Some of Ed’s friends from Canterbury were even going to make the trip up for the verdict. We’ve had so much support from everybody who knew him and they’re just as disappointed as we are.”

Arron Ward will be sentenced on September 3.