THE three teenage killers of Big Issue seller Ralph Millward will be freed by the end of this year but will not be returning to the streets of Dorset, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Last June, jurors at Winchester Crown Court found Jimmy Ayres, 16, and Craig Real, 18, guilty of the manslaughter of homeless Mr Millward whose violent death provoked public outrage.

Ayres from Aspen Gardens, Poole, was told he would be detained for 90 weeks while Real from Turbary Close was handed a sentence of four years and nine months.

Warren Crago, 18, from Arne Crescent was given a four-year sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter before the trial.

All three, from the Rossmore area, were cleared of murder charges and had served more than a year on remand while awaiting court proceedings.

The Daily Echo understands that at least one of the teenagers has already been released from a young offenders’ institution and that his co-defendants will be out by the end of this year.

Popular Mr Millward, 41, was kicked to death close to his Westbourne pitch after refusing to hand over his tobacco to the alcohol-fuelled gang in May 2009.

Sentencing the trio, Judge Guy Boney QC said they had “snuffed out the life of a decent, innocent man” purely for their own amusement.

He added: “The violence was mindless, vicious, extreme and chillingly casual. You carried out this attack for no better reason than you were bored and looking for excitement.”

In a joint statement Dorset Probation Trust and Dorset Police confirmed that all three were set to be released, under licence, by the end of this year.

“Their releases will be according to the conditions of each individual sentence for the manslaughter of Ralph Millward.

“The Dorset Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) has implemented a risk management plan for each individual to ensure that their release reflects our primary purpose of protecting the public.

“All three will be subject to restrictions until the end of their sentence in the community.

“Dorset Probation Trust are also obliged to consider the views of the victim’s family when imposing these restrictions.”

The statement added: “Dorset MAPPA can confirm that none of the three will be located in Dorset on release.

“This is partly in recognition of the community tensions that may be caused if any are allowed into the Borough of Poole.”

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