SOPHIE Lancaster's teenage murderers were branded feral thugs' by a judge as he sent them to jail for life.

Brendan Harris, 15, and Ryan Herbert, 16, carried out a "hate crime against harmless people", Judge Anthony Russell QC said.

He said: "At least wild animals, when they hunt in packs, have a legitimate reason for so doing, to obtain food.

"You have none and your behaviour on that night degrades humanity itself.

"This was feral thuggery.

"It raises serious questions about the sort of society which exists in this country at the start of a new millennium which was heralded with such optimism."

Harris, 15, of Spring Terrace, Bacup, who was convicted after a trial last month, was ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years.

Herbert, 16, of Rossendale Crescent, Bacup, who admitted murder, received a 16-year tariff.

Sophie, 20, was kicked and stamped to death as she begged the pair to stop beating her boyfriend Robert Maltby in Stubbylee Park, Bacup last August.

The former Haslingden High School pupils, who lived together in Bacup, were targeted for being dressed like goths.

The tense sentencing saw four police officers brought in to stand guard outside the packed court room while another two stood inside.

Extra policing was also brought in for other areas of the building.

Sophie's family and supporters had sat in the jury box, while the defendants family were all separated from them in the public gallery.

Judge Russell told the defendents: "This was a terrible case which has shocked and outraged all who have heard about it.

"The intolerance you displayed in this case is shocking evidence of the attitudes of some of our people.

"This was a hate crime against these completely harmless people targeted because their appearance was different to yours."

Defence solicitors said that the age of the teens should be taken into consideration.

Richard Marks QC acting for Herbert said that the 16-year-old had not "tried to minimise the part he had played in this dreadful incident".

He said: "This was not in anyway a premeditated attack.

"Befuddled by drink he did not fully appreciate the very serious consequences that his actions were likely to entail."

Harris's lawyer Andrew O'Byrne, said that the 15-year-old felt remorse for what had happened but Judge Russell interrupted and said that in recent documents Harris was still adament he was not guilty.

But Judge Russell dismissed all the defendant sentiments of remorse as "shallow".

He told the defendants that he "noted the swaggering manner that some of you have displayed" in court.

"I noticed the wink that one of you exchanged with the public gallery when the murder charge was not proceeded with against you and that one of you thought it appropriate to shout out 'love you mum"'.

He said: "You have shown little genuine shame or remorse for your actions and I regard the sentiments of regret you have sought to put forward to the Youth Offending team and through your counsel as hollow when put into the overall context of this case."

After the case, the Chief Crown Prosecutor for Lancashire Robert Marshall described the case as "truly shocking".

Mr Marshall said: ""The murder of Sophie Lancaster and the vicious attack on her boyfriend Robert Maltby stand out for their utter pointlessness and sheer brutality.

"Worse still, it seems very likely that the attack started as a form of amusement for those involved.

"We can only try to imagine the loss felt by Miss Lancaster's family, who have conducted themselves with outstanding dignity and restraint throughout this difficult case.

"The final words must be our heartfelt sympathy for them."