A HIGH Court judge described two teenage murderers who kicked and punched a man to death as vicious, dangerous young thugs.

Mr Justice MacDuff told Jason Bolton and Andrew Smith they were “wicked and callous” as he sentenced them to life in jail.

The pair attacked Asaf Ahmed, aged 28, as he sat on the back step behind Derby Ward Labour Club, in Deane Road, Deane, on December 21 last year.

Both were found guilty of murder following a two-week trial at Manchester Crown Court last month.

Mr Justice MacDuff, who presided over the case, said: “Not only have you caused unimaginable grief to the Ahmed family but you are both vicious, dangerous young thugs.

“It is little comfort that you may not have intended to kill. You both intended to cause grievous injury and to get pleasure from doing so.

“You were clearly in the mood, both of you, to assault anyone who appeared to be fair game.

“It was fun beating Mr Ahmed up. To cause him pain and suffering gave you pleasure. You beat him until he could take no more.

“Your actions were callous, unprovoked and lacking in humanity.”

He added: “I have no doubt the pleasure you derived at the time of the assault was all the greater because the victim happened to be Asian.”

The trial heard how Bolton and Smith set upon Mr Ahmed, who had left a family party to get a can of fizzy pop from shops in Deane Road.

Bolton, aged 18, and Smith, who was just 15, punched, kicked, stamped and jumped on him in a frenzied attack at around 9.30pm. They ran off and Bolton 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, formerly of Sundridge Close, Deane, admitted assaulting him, but claimed Mr Ahmed was suffering from an asthma attack before the pair came across him.

Greater Manchester Police’s deputy senior investigating officer, Dave Hickey, said after the sentencing: “The sentences were very good from our perspective.

“These were vicious young thugs who, on the night, were fuelled by drink. They were out for trouble, as was clear from the fact they assaulted another man earlier that night.

“They were out for anyone unfortunate enough to come across them that night.”

He added: “It was quite a shock when we found the video on the mobile phone. It is difficult to understand why someone would do that.”

The family of Mr Ahmed, who lived in Daubhill and had been at court throughout the trial, were too distressed to speak after the hearing but issued a statement.

They said: “Asaf was a quiet, private man who would not harm anyone. He was a good son, brother, husband and father to his three children.

“We are not a family without him — something is missing. Asaf’s three children will grow up without a father, his two sons without a role model in their lives.

“We have to learn to live without Asaf as the head of the family. We will miss him every day of our lives.”

Bolton was given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 17 years.

Smith, as a juvenile, was detained at Her Majesty’s