TWO callous Sedgley teenagers who brutally battered a man to death before taking photographs on their mobiles as he was "humiliated and degraded" have both been jailed for life.

Shylon Wishart and James Cartwright punched, kicked and viciously stamped on Shane Watson before he was urinated on as he lay unconscious on the ground.

The 23-year-old who was subjected to what Judge John Warner described as a "ferocious" attack also had a cigarette stubbed out in his mouth.

The teenagers then went on to a party where they were laughing as they showed the photographs to other guests and "boasted" about what the Judge said was their "brutal and callous handiwork."

The Judge said the attack could have resulted from a dispute over a cigarette adding: "Whatever the cause nothing can justify the extreme violence and the acts of degradation."

He ruled 19-year-old Wishart, a retail worker, would have to stay behind bars for 16 years while 18-year-old Cartwright, a student, must serve a minimum of 13 years.

Wishart, of North Springfield, Sedgley, had denied murder but was found guilty at the end of his seven-day trial while Cartwright of Sandyfields Road, Sedgley, pleaded guilty to the charge.

Mr Watson, who worked for a debt collecting firm in the area, became separated from his girlfriend Kelly Handley after they had been drinking in Sedgley.

And when she tried to contact him on his mobile she was verbally abused and told he had been "dealt with."

The hysterical Miss Handley then went to Mr Watson's home.

A further call was made to the mobile and a voice callously told them: "Your man is dead at the bottom of the alleyway."

Peter Grieves-Smith, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court it was a "vicious and cowardly" attack on Mr Watson who had been stripped - adding: "Quite what prompted it is unclear."

Christopher Hotten QC, defending Cartwright, said they came upon Mr Watson by chance and went on: "It was a spur of the moment attack committed in drink that had appalling consequences."

Michael Duck QC, for Wishart, agreed it was a spontaneous attack and maintained there had never been any intention to kill.

He said: "There was no dispute but plainly something out of the ordinary happened."

Afterwards, in a victim impact statement, Shane’s parents Jane and Steven Watson said: "He always acted as a peacemaker and would actively avoid trouble and do his best to calm situations down.

"I struggle to put into words the scene I was faced with when I saw Shane lying in the alleyway. It would be any mother's worst nightmare but it was a reality for me.

"I relive the images in my head every day and I cannot erase the painful memory of seeing Shane or hearing the voices of the people responsible for such a nasty, cruel and degrading attack.

"The people responsible took his dignity, his life and my only son. We both idolised Shane. He was the single most important person in our lives and to see him so badly hurt has devastated us beyond words."

Det Insp Michael Griffiths said the sentences imposed reflected the fact it was an horrific crime.

Martin Lindop, Sector Crown Prosecutor from West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service, added: “We hope today’s sentence can bring a sense of closure to the family and friends of Mr Watson, and our thoughts are with them today.”