A DATE has been set for an appeal against the sentences of two sadistic killers who disembowelled a man in his home.

The Crown Prosecution Service protested at the "unduly lenient" terms given last year to Sean Swindon and Michael Peart for the murder of Keith Philpott.

The case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General, and a hearing has been listed for February 16.

Appeal court judges will either uphold or increase the minimum tariffs on the life sentences set at Teesside Crown Court in October.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, ruled that Swindon must serve at least 20 years before he is eligible for parole, while Peart was jailed for a minimum of 15 years.

Mr Philpott, 36, who had learning difficulties, was tortured for four hours in his home in Axbridge Court, Billingham, near Stockton, last March.

Swindon wrongly believed Mr Philpott had harassed his sister, Gemma, 19, and sent her sexually suggestive text messages, even though he could barely read or write.

Mr Philpott was ordered to get on his knees where he was bound and gagged, before the pair kicked and stamped on his head.

Mr Philpott was stabbed in the stomach by Swindon and, according to pathologists, was still alive when he was disembowelled on his living room floor.

Teesside Crown Court was told there was no truth in claims of a sexual relationship with Swindon's sister, who visited Mr Philpott's flat with friends.

The court heard that Peart, 22, from Norton, near Stockton, had two previous convictions for attacks on wrongly suspected paedophiles.

Swindon, 24, from Middlesbrough, was told by Judge Fox: "You were the instigator. You were also the principal executioner, I find, by a long chalk."