A MAN has had his 23-year prison sentence for attempted murder extended by 28 days, for wasting court time with a "hopeless" appeal.

Simon Trigg, of The Glyn, Hafodyrynys, and brother Christopher, of no fixed abode, carried out a “frenzied and merciless” attack on another man after an altercation in a pub on Boxing Day night 2016.

Both were convicted of attempted murder after a trial last year, and Judge Eleri Rees handed each a 23-year prison sentence.

Simon Trigg challenged the sentence, claiming it was far too tough and should be cut - but at the Appeal Court in London, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave, sitting with two other judges, took just minutes to throw out his complaint.

“This was a severe sentence, but it could easily have been higher. It was neither excessive nor wrong in law”, he ruled.

Ordering Simon Trigg to serve an extra 28 days, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave concluded: “We regard this application as wholly hopeless, and a waste of court time.”

Sentencing the Triggs last July, Judge Rees said they would undoubtedly have killed their victim Kevin Skye - with knives taken from a kitchen drawer at their parents' home - had it not been for the treatment he received at the scene and in hospital.

She told them the injuries they inflicted on Mr Skye had been "life changing", and their attack "frenzied and merciless".

"Had it not been for the intervention of members of the crowd, you would have continued to stab Kevin Skye until he was dead."

Afterwards, the brothers returned to their parents' home nearby, denying involvement in the incident to their mother.

They had washed the blood from the knives and from themselves, and barricaded themselves on a bedroom.

Judge Rees was in no doubt they "hurriedly concocted" a story in that room, maintaining false accounts throughout their trial despite overwhelming evidence.

The Appeal Court was told the Triggs were incensed that Mr Skye tried to "act as peacemaker" when trouble flared at the pub that night.

Mr Skye was later walking home with his partner and four other people, and unknowingly passed the Trigg brothers' parents' house.

The brothers rushed out and attacked him with knives, inflicting 21 injuries, including stab wounds to his chest and abdomen. He suffered massive blood loss and his life was only saved by rapid medical intervention.