A couple who took part in the fatal beating of a middle-aged mother have been jailed.

Charmaine Dempsey was found dead at her flat in Ivory Walk, Crawley, by her daughter and a friend in December 2002.

Police believe Ms Dempsey, 48, an alcoholic, was killed a month before her battered body was discovered.

She had been punched, kicked, stamped on and hit with a broken table leg. The attack left her with a broken nose, fractured jaw and cheekbone, multiple rib fractures and severe bruising to her head and body.

Three of her friends, all alcoholics, were arrested after detectives bugged a house where they lived in Neptune Close, Crawley.

Stephen Johnstone was jailed for life after being convicted by a jury of murder after a six-week trial at Lewes Crown Court which ended last December.

The jury cleared his friend Alex Gallacher, 33, of murder but convicted him of manslaughter for his part in the attack. Gallacher's girlfriend at the time, Tracey Gazzard, 29, admitted manslaughter before the trial began.

Yesterday Gallacher was sentenced to seven years in jail and Gazzard was given three-and-a-half years.

Judge Richard Brown told Gallacher: "You were involved in a cowardly attack on a defenceless woman who died as a result of a horrendous beating.

"Alcohol may well have played some part in your activities but does not excuse what went on."

Police believe Ms Dempsey was killed during a drunken row and the motive was revenge.

They found the others blamed her when Gazzard's three children were taken into care after Ms Dempsey had allegedly hit one of them while babysitting.

Johnstone, 26, a former grass cutter for Crawley council, denied harming her. Gallacher did not give evidence. Gazzard admitted assaulting her but said she did not intend to kill her.

After the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Tony O'Donnell said the sentences on Gallacher and Gazzard were appropriate.

He said: "The evidence was all pointing towards Johnstone with these two assisting him."