THREE members of a criminal gang failed yesterday in an Appeal Court bid to have their convictions overturned.

But Paul Ashton, Robert Webber, and Paul Lyons, from Newcastle, all received cuts in their prison sentences.

The three were found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court, in April 1998, of the conspiracy to murder rival gang member Terrence Mitchell.

Ashton and Webber were also convicted of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

They have always protested their innocence, and their appeal was heard at top-security Woolwich Crown Court in October.

Yesterday, Lord Justice Mantell, Mr Justice Treacy and Mr Justice Simon dismissed the appeals.

However, Lord Justice Mantell said each man was entitled to a cut in his jail term.

The judge said Webber's sentence would be reduced to 17 years because, in waiting four-and-half years for his appeal to be heard, his human rights had been breached.

Ashton's sentence was reduced from 31 years to 22 years.

Lyons, serving 23-and-half years having also been convicted of a prison mutiny and another offence, had his sentence cut to 20-and-a-half years.