Garry Newlove confronted a gang outside his Warrington home No quick fix to drink problem Widow blasts gang culture

Adam Swellings, 19, was one of three teenagers convicted of the murder of father-of-three Garry Newlove, who was killed in Cheshire last August.

Warrington North MP Helen Jones has asked the Attorney General to examine why Swellings, from Crewe, was freed.

One of Swellings' bail conditions was that he did not go to Warrington - the town where he then killed Mr Newlove.

The Conservative Party said the case proved the government had abandoned Tony Blair's Respect Agenda, which was designed to tackle youth crime.

Daughter saw attack

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said it raised "serious issues" about the courts.

But Leader of the House of Commons Harriet Harman said the government was determined to take action against serious violent crime.

Swellings had appeared in court earlier on the day of the killing.

If there were any steps taken to enforce that bail condition - which I don't know - they were totally ineffective Helen Jones MP Victim's anti-yob campaign Spotlight on troubled area Agony of Newlove family

He was convicted of Mr Newlove's murder on Wednesday, along with Stephen Sorton, 17, and 16-year-old Jordan Cunliffe.

Labour MP Ms Jones said: "We have laws for keeping people like that from committing further crimes and they weren't enforced.

"I'm writing to the Attorney General to ask why someone who had a history of breaching court orders, of having no regard for court orders, was then bailed.

"Bailed with a condition that he left Warrington immediately and it appears if there were any steps taken to enforce that bail condition - which I don't know - they were totally ineffective because 10 hours later he'd murdered Mr Newlove.

"You have to ask the question why the judge let him out on bail."

Mr Newlove was attacked by the teenagers on 10 August outside his home on Station Road North, Fearnhead.

Adam Swellings, Stephen Sorton and Jordan Cunliffe were convicted

He had gone outside to confront them about vandalising his wife's car.

The court heard the 47-year-old sales manager was "kicked like a football". He was left unconscious and died in hospital two days later.

His youngest daughter Amy, 12, saw the attack and during the trial Mr Newlove's wife Helen spoke of her horror at seeing a trainer print on her husband's head.

Mrs Newlove recalled how in the months prior to his death, her husband had been increasingly concerned about anti-social behaviour in the area.

'Violent and aggressive'

The family car had been vandalised on four occasions and Mr Newlove had even stopped his children walking to the local shops after dark because he feared what would happen to them.

Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy said: "The prison service is full of people who when they are sober would not do this sort of thing, but they get themselves into situations where they drink so much they become violent and aggressive.

"We had had dealings with these particular individuals before. The main offender we'd actually put in court the day of the murder.

"We have done huge amounts but we're not going to solve this with enforcement law alone.

"Groups of young lads in particular, that often get angry at the system, they have had poor parenting, educational under-achievement and start going down this street where they start getting involved with gangs and drink and drugs.

"These need to be identified by the agencies and in these sorts of situations we need the courts not to be giving them bail."

'Serious issues'

The Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, called the case a "hideous demonstration" of the government's failure to tackle violence among young people.

"This is the second time in as many days that we find a murder committed by a violent criminal released on bail," Mr Davis said.

"This tragic case is also a hideous demonstration of the failure to address drugs and alcohol-fuelled feral violence amongst teenage gangs.

"We need to see robust law enforcement - police back on the streets taking a zero-tolerance approach to crime, and honest and appropriate sentencing.

"We must also address the deeper causes - strengthening families, restoring school discipline and defeating the scourge of binge-drinking and drugs that feed the violence on our streets."

Leader of the House of Commons Harriet Harman told MPs "we all want to learn the lessons of that terrible crime" and said the government was determined to take action against serious violent crime.