MONSTERS

Judge imposes minimum term of 34 years for murdering two men

- DAVE FINLAY

Duo mutilated their victims with knives, a hammer and a blowtorch

A FATHER and son who murdered and mutilated two men were branded “monsters” by a judge as they were jailed for life.

Ian MacLeod, 66, and Dean “Denim” MacLeod, 42, attacked their victims with machetes, hammers and a Stanley knife after donning forensic suits, plastic overshoes and goggles.

They murdered Derek Johnston and Desmond Rowlings at MacLeod star’s home, where both victims had their ears severed and letters burned on them with a blowtorch.

Father and son pled guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to assaulting Derek by repeatedly striking him on the head with a machete and Stanley knife.

They also repeatedly hit him on the head with a hammer and left the weapon embedded in his head and burned the letters YLT – meaning Leith Young Team – into his forehead. They also cut off an ear and part of his nose and forced nails into his eyes.

The pair also admitted murdering Desmond after repeatedly slicing him with a Stanley knife and machetes and hitting him with a hammer.