Two Bolton teenagers found guilty of the murder of father-of-three Asaf Ahmed were jailed for life today.

Andrew Smith, aged just 15 at the time of the attack, and his friend, Jason Bolton, aged 18, punched, kicked and stamped on victim Mr Ahmed.

Bolton was ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years and Smith a minimum term of 13 years when they appeared at Manchester Crown Court for sentence.

The horrific beating led to Mr Ahmed suffering a fatal asthma attack. He died at the scene of the incident outside the Derby Ward Labour Club in Deane.

On October 30 Smith, now aged 16, and 18-year-old Bolton were found guilty of murder by a jury at Manchester Crown Court.

A two-week trial heard how Bolton and Smith set upon Mr Ahmed as he sat at the back of Derby Ward Labour Club, off Deane Road, on December 21 last year.

He had left a family party to get a can of fizzy pop.

Bolton and Smith punched, kicked, stamped and jumped on Mr Ahmed in a frenzied attack at around 9.30pm. They ran off but returned for more and started to attack him again.

Mr Ahmed, who was found in a pool of blood, died from an asthma attack as a result of the beating. His asthma inhaler was found in his hand, with the canister a short distance away.

During the trial, Smith, from Deane, claimed he had tried to stop Bolton attacking Mr Ahmed — but within an hour of the attack had filmed himself on his mobile phone saying the words “Eyes of a killer” in a dramatic voice.

Bolton, of Sundridge Close, Deane, admitted assaulting him, but claimed Mr Ahmed was suffering from an asthma attack before the pair came across him.

The jury deliberated for two-and-a-half days before delivering a majority guilty verdict. Of the seven men and five women in the jury, 11 found Bolton guilty and 10 found Smith guilty.

Senior investigating officer Andy Tattersall said: "This was a really tragic incident in which an innocent man lost his life during an unprovoked assault. "He was attacked for no reason as he walked to a shop. "That assault, which had racial overtones, sparked a fatal asthma attack."