TWO sadistic killers who disembowelled a man in his home have had their sentences increased after three senior judges reviewed the case today.

The case of Sean Swindon and Michael Peart was referred to the Court of Appeal in London after protests that the terms given to the murderers were unduly lenient.

In October, Swindon was told he must serve at least 20 years of a life sentence, and Peart was ordered to be detained for a minimum of 15 years before parole will be considered.

The Crown Prosecution Service and the victims family successfully argued for the minimum tariffs to be reconsidered, and the Attorney General referred the case to the appeal courts.

Today, Swindon had his minimum sentence increased to 28 years, and Peart had his upped to 22 years.

The pair murdered Keith Philpott, 36, after torturing him for four hours in his home in Axbridge Court, Billingham, Teesside, in March last year.

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, who had learning difficulties, 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 in October that 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 people he wrongly suspected of being paedophiles.

Swindon, 24, from Middlesbrough, was told by trial judge Peter Fox, QC:

"You were the instigator. You were also the principal executioner, I find, by a long chalk."