A RADCLIFFE man started a life sentence on Wednesday after being part of a gang who murdered a young father with a Samurai sword.

Stephen Goodwin (22), of Bright Street, together with friends Nathaniel Clarke-Collins (19), of Moyse Avenue, Bury, and John Watt (22), of Square Street, Ramsbottom, ambushed 20-year-old Richard Meakin in Ramsbottom in August last year.

After a 23-day trial at Manchester Crown Court, the trio were convicted of murder and all given life sentences.

Goodwin and Watt will now serve 14 years before they can be considered for parole and Clarke-Collins was told he would serve a minimum term of 13 years.

Passing sentence, Judge Clement Goldstone QC told them: "You were involved in an appalling, outrageous and planned revenge attack.

"You all used a lethal weapon. It was not a chance encounter: that is why the sword was taken. The victim was kicked and received no less than eight stab wounds. You totally ignored his pleas you should stop, leaving him to bleed to death.

"You appeared not to have a care in the world, changed your clothes and then callously went to a pub for a drink."

A fourth man, Martin Nicholl (33), of Hurst Street, Bury, was cleared of murder but convicted of assaulting the victim.

Nicholl was jailed for three years and the judge said he played a part in the planning and execution of the attack, not knowing a weapon would be used.

The court had earlier heard how the attack on Mr Meakin in Rostron Road, Ramsbottom, was in revenge for an assault on Watt a few days earlier.

The defendants had denied murder, but prosecutor Mr Charles Garside alleged all four, acting together, attacked and killed Meakin, of Bye Road, Shuttleworth.

He said the motive for the attack was revenge after a feud had developed between Watt and the dead man, his brother and one of their friends.

They knew he was at a house in Rostron Road on August 22 and ambushed him when he emerged. The victim was kicked about the head and body and stabbed eight times with the sword.

He died in Bury's Fairfield Hospital a few hours later. One wound severed an artery in his thigh.

Speaking after the verdicts were returned, Mr Meakin's mother, Sheila, said: "For anyone to return from their summer vacation and be informed at the airport that their son was dead would be horrific, but to be told he had been attacked and murdered is unthinkable."

Mr Meakin had three sisters, Charlotte (24), Gabrielle (11) and Sophia (5), and a brother, Michael (22). He had a girlfriend of two years, Holly, and their daughter, Codie, aged 18 months.

Sheila continued: "Richard was no angel but he was our son, our children's brother, Codie's father and Holly's partner and did not deserve to die.

"We loved him unconditionally and that love will always remain with us along with the pain and hurt of this loss. Our lives will go on but will never be the same.

"I pray the young people of Ramsbottom stop their misguided divided attitude and learn to live together with tolerance and respect for each other.

"On June 9 Richard would have been celebrating his 21st birthday. All we can do for him now is put flowers on his grave."