Andrew Lloyd must serve 24 years before he can apply for parole

The Court of Appeal rejected a move by Andrew Lloyd, 23, of Swansea to reduce the term for killing Aaron Gilbert, who he "treated like a punchbag".

Lord Justice Gage said the case was a "dreadful one" and but for his age and background, a 30-year tariff might have been imposed.

He said Lloyd had inflicted "significant and extreme abuse".

He had been jailed for life last October at Swansea Crown Court.

'Head to foot'

Aaron's mother Rebecca Lewis, 21, was jailed for six years after being found guilty of familial homicide, a law to deal with parents who keep silent or blame each other for fatal injuries involving children.

Lloyd's lawyers argued his age and turbulent personal background should be taken into account.

But Lord Justice Gage, sitting with two other appeal court judges, said Lloyd's application for leave to appeal against sentence was rejected.

Aaron Gilbert suffered 50 injuries to his body

He said doctors had noted 50 separate injuries on Aaron's body after his death in May 2005.

The injuries covered his body from "head to foot".

An official review into Aaron's death found a catalogue of warning signs in the case which were not linked together.

According to the review, Lloyd was "a very troubled young man", the victim of physical abuse, domestic abuse and neglect as a child, who had grown into a man with a history of repeated offending.