Left to right, Trevor Lees, Kelvin Horlock, Bill Saunders

by Keith Hunt

Three thugs have been jailed for life for a second time after they were convicted of murdering vulnerable alcoholic Ted Shaxted at a retrial.

Kelvin Horlock, who organised the fatal beating of the 36-year-old victim at his Northfleet home, was sentenced to a minimum of 16 years in February 2009.

But another judge reduced the term to 15 years at the end of the latest trial.

Bill Saunders and Trevor Lees were each jailed for a minimum of 14 years at the first trial.

Judge Jeremy Carey on Tuesday set the tariff for Saunders at 13 years four months and Lees at 12-and-a-half years.

Horlock, 32, of Hatfield Road, Strood, Saunders, 30, of Denton Caravan Site, Shamrock Road, Gravesend, and Lees, 38, of London Road, Northfleet, all denied murder and manslaughter.

Lees admitted manslaughter at the first trial but denied it at the second.

The jury of nine men and three women could not reach verdicts in respect of Marvin Service, 35, of Brandon Street, Gravesend, and he will face a third trial in December.

Judge Carey said he was sure Horlock was the organiser who rounded up others to inflict severe punishment on Mr Shaxted, who stood no chance of defending himself.

During the eight-week trial jurors heard how Horlock ordered the attack after his mother's car was stolen with her dog in it by Mr Shaxted and crashed.

Prosecutor Jonathan Higgs said the victim was given a "sustained and ferocious beating" at his flat in Wallis Park on December 2 2007.

He suffered multiple injuries, including fractures to 11 of his 12 ribs on one side of his body, and died 12 days later.

He told police he had been attacked by three men but refused to support a prosecution.

The four men also denied an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Horlock, Saunders and Service also pleaded not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm. Lees admitted that charge.