THREE men from Fleetwood have today been sentenced to a total of 28 years in prison for the killing of Stephen Rumsam.

The badly beaten body of Mr. Rumsam was found at his flat on Norbreck Road, Blackpool on Saturday 31 May 2008 by his landlady.

Police and paramedics were called to the address and a murder investigation was commenced by Lancashire’s Force Major Investigation Team.

Three Fleetwood men were arrested over the following days and were charged with killing Mr Rumsam. Last week Edmund Forbes, 39 years, of Noblett Court, Fleetwood pleaded guilty to the murder of Stephen Rumsam and has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 14 years. Simon Smith, 27 years, of Wyre Street, Fleetwood and Martyn Wright, 25 years, of Homestead Way, Fleetwood pleaded guilty to his manslaughter and will each serve seven years in a joint and sustained attack by all three men.

Detective Inspector Phil Burke of the Major Investigation Team said: “This was a vicious and seemingly unprovoked attack on somebody who had invited the men into his home for a drink. "They later made every effort to avoid detection. It is now a small consolation to Mr Rumsam’s family that these men have admitted killing Stephen and they will therefore not be required to sit through the trauma of a murder trial.”

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Esseen said: “I would like to thank the many members of the public for their assistance in this case. "I have no doubt it has contributed significantly to this conviction. "It was a sustained attack on an innocent man. Our thoughts rest with Mr Rumsam’s family at this difficult time.”

Speaking on behalf of the family Stephen’s mum Iris Gillot said: “My family and I were devastated at Stephen’s needless death.

"It was a sustained, horrific and brutal attack and we cannot come to terms with that.

"He did not deserve it and neither did we. It is us who have the real life sentence; living with this every day and missing Stephen for the rest of our lives.”