TWO members of a gang behind a two-day rampage across a notorious red light district, which left one man dead and four seriously injured, were jailed for life yesterday.

Thomas Petch, 23, and George Coleman, 41, were found guilty of murdering Kalvant Singh, who was thrown from the window of a brothel bedroom in Errol Street, Middlesbrough.

The father-of-five died when he was innocently caught up in a turf war over the control of the town's drugs and prostitution trade.

Mr Justice Turner recommended Petch serve at least 20 years behind bars after Newcastle Crown Court heard his string of previous violent convictions.

The judge told him: "You were in the business of consuming drugs and influencing the way prostitutes carried out their business in the town.

"As your record shows, and this case demonstrates beyond doubt, you are also a man prepared to use extreme violence."

The pair were also convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Michael Moody, who had his head slammed into a fish tank at the house in Errol Street.

The jury delivered guilty verdicts on charges of wounding two other innocent men, Paul Ward and Andrew Jessop, with intent.

Petch was found guilty of a further charge of wounding Paul Thompson with intent.

Mr Justice Turner told Coleman: "It is as clear as may be that the explanation for this outbreak of serious and unacceptable violence . . . was that there was a form of turf war concerning the distribution of drugs.

"It is also clear that you, Coleman, were active in the distribution of drugs and managing prostitutes for your own evil and selfish gains."

The trial heard that Petch and Coleman had gone hunting for a man named Dalziell, who they accused of robbing prostitutes of the drugs they had previously supplied.

After the murder and assault in Errol Street, the court heard Coleman drove Petch to bedsits in nearby Southfield Road where Petch beat Mr Ward and Mr Jessop, and cut them with a sword. The following day, Petch attacked Mr Thompson, in Fallows Court.

Coleman, of Thornton Street, North Ormsby, and Petch, of Parkhouse Farm, Dunsdale, denied all charges.

Jason Crossling, 32, of Fairfield Road, Middlesbrough, was cleared of murder and causing grevious bodily harm to Mr Moody.

His brother, Jonathon Crossling, is in Spain awaiting extradition, and another man, Lee Harrison, is sought by police. Both are wanted in connection with the attacks.

After the trial, the dead man's widow, Mrs Pushpa Rani-Singh, said: "He has left five children behind who he will not see grow up. I am glad justice has been done.

"Kalvant was a loving family man and we cannot understand why he should be the victim of such violence."

Mr Singh's brother, Jasbir Singh, said: "His behaviour that night was totally out of character. I think he was looking for someone to talk to."

Detective Superintendent Mark Braithwaite said: "This was a difficult investigation set against a background of drugs, prostitution, violence and intimidation.

"Kalvant was a married man who loved his children. The investigation uncovered no evidence that he was looking for sexual favours on the night of his death.

"He just happened to be there when the gang of men burst in and he never stood a chance.