THE family of a grandfather who died after a New Year attack close to his North-East home last night criticised the sentences given to his killers – one of whom will be freed from jail within days.

Devastated relatives of fatherof- two Ron Sharples said they have lost faith in the justice system after Declan Appleby was given a minimum nine-year term and his friend, Scott Fullam, got two-and-a-half years.

Fullam, 19, who admitted Mr Sharples’ manslaughter, will serve only half of his sentence, but has already spent 443 days behind bars on remand, so he could be released as early as next weekend.

Appleby, 18, who was convicted of murder after a two-week trail at Teesside Crown Court last summer, was given an indefinite sentence, and cannot apply for parole until after nine years.

Mr Sharples’ relatives sobbed in court after Judge Peter Fox passed the sentences, and his brother read a statement outside court after yesterday’s hearing.

David Sharples said: “Ronnie was tragically and brutally taken from us on January 1, 2008, a day which should have been the start of a New Year, but instead our lives have been torn apart.

“Since that day we have been on an emotional rollercoaster, trying to come to terms with what has happened. We still ask the question why? Ronnie was just an innocent man in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Project engineer Mr Sharples, 52, was the father of Lee, 27, and 23-year-old Karen. His twin granddaughters Eve and Hannah, Lee’s children, were three yesterday.

His widow, Christine, 53, broke down as the family statement was read out, and her brother-inlaw said: “We are extremely disappointed with the criminal justice system as a whole.”

Mr Sharples was attacked after an altercation in the street near his home in Marske, east Cleveland, while he was out looking for his dog in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

During the trial, it emerged that Fullam pushed the grandfather and Appleby launched a “kung fu-style” kick at his face even though Mr Sharples was trying to act as a peacemaker.

Witnesses said the initial argument was between the man’s friend and a group of youths, but trial judge Judge Fox said how it began and escalated was “confused and confusing”.

He told Appleby and Fullam, who were both 17 at the time of the killing: “This was physical violence and it was in a public place. This was a most regrettable and tragic incident.”

Peter Makepeace, for Fullam, of Hawkins Close, New Marske, said: “There is often a gulf between the criminal culpability of a defendant and the dreadful consequences and harm that flow.”

Tim Roberts, QC, mitigating, said Appleby, of Cliff Street, New Marske, was not the instigator of the trouble, it was not premeditated and he – like Fullam – had shown remorse.