THE Cwmbran mother of Big Issue seller Keith Swan criticised sentences given to the two men who killed her son in a brutal attack, and said he did not deserve to die in such a tragic way.

Mr Swan, 32, formerly of Newport, died in Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, on January 13, two days after the attack in Brazengate, Norwich, which left him with head injuries.

Yesterday at Norwich Crown Court, Mr Justice Moses jailed Martyn Armstrong, 21, of Bultons, Hales, near Loddon, for four-and-a-half years and Edward North, 20, a butcher of Rowington Road, Norwich, was sent to a young offender institution for three years and nine months after both admitted manslaughter.

Oliver Billy Joe Guthrie, aged 19, of Hughenden Road, Norwich, who took no part in the violence, received 100 hours community punishment for affray. All three had originally denied murder.

Mr Justice Moses said that on January 11 Armstrong and North had set about Mr Swan punching and kicking him and North had also hit him with a post.

"It resulted in the death of someone who did not deserve to die and my sentence must reflect that."

As they were sentenced, Mrs Maureen Swan, 65, of Thornhill, left the court in tears and shouted: "Is that all they get for killing my son?"

Later she said: "I feel the sentences are an insult. No one deserves to die like that. Whatever they have got it won't bring my son back."

* Pictured: Big Issue seller Keith Swan