A MAN who led a vicious attack on a friend - described as "little short of a planned lynching" - yesterday failed to win a cut in his sentence.

Leslie Hope, 37, of Newfoundland Street, Darlington, was jailed for a seven-and-a-half years at Teesside Crown Court on April 12 after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary and possession of a firearm.

London's Court of Appeal heard that he and others went to the victim's house last December. He did not realise that one of the other men had a knife.

During the attack, the victim was severely beaten, and stabbed by the other man.

Hope's barrister, Roderick Hunt, argued unsuccessfully that the sentence was "manifestly excessive" because he had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had co-operated with police. He also said Hope should be given credit for his remorse and the fact that he was a model prisoner.

He said a sawn-off shotgun, which had been found at Hope's property, had not been used in the attack and he had led police to it.

Dismissing the appeal, Mr Justice Davis had described Hope's attack as "little short of a planned lynching".

He said: "It was a planned, vicious attack and Hope was considerably the eldest of the three and the one who organised it. He knew there were weapons with the group - he himself had a knuckleduster - and that serious injury would result."