THREE men have been given life sentences for murdering a 46-year-old man after inviting him to a party in Fife.

A court heard Paris Green, 22, Kevin McDonagh, 23, and Dean Smith, 20, tortured their victim to death, eating ham sandwiches as he suffered.

The trio were found guilty of the March murder of Robert Shankland in Brodie Court, Glenrothes, and must serve 18 years before applying for parole.

The court was told Green - who was born Peter Laing - is to have gender realignment surgery and will serve his life sentence in Cornton Vale prison for women in Stirling.

The victim had been invited to a party at the property, where he was attacked and left in a room. He was later found dead.

Judge John Morris told the trio: "This was a particularly gruesome murder which effectively involved the torture of your victim over many hours.

"It beggars belief that you could act towards another human being in this way."

Passing sentence at the High Court in Glasgow, the judge added: "Your conduct was utterly depraved. You left Mr Shankland - even in death - without any dignity whatsoever."

The jury heard Mr Shankland was tied up with torn bedding, battered, kicked and attacked with a rolling pin at Green's flat in Glenrothes in March this year.

A ligature was also tied around his neck and a plastic bag pulled over his head.

Their victim was lured to the property after an alleged incident with Smith two weeks earlier.

Mr Shankland - who suffered from a heart disease - was killed either by suffocation or blunt force injuries. The killers then ate ham sandwiches that had been paid for after they sold their victim's mobile phone.

Green's friend Maggie Shields told the trial she visited the flat and learned about the death - before recalling how the trio boasted about the beating.

The 31 year-old explained: "Dean jumped up quite excitedly and said: 'I will show you the body'. I still did not think that they had killed him."

Ms Shields went on to say the violence had erupted after a row about buying a bag of chips.

The three killers concocted a story claiming Mr Shankland had made sexual advances to each of them in turn. The witness said she fled the flat terrified and contacted the police.

McDonagh later told officers who arrested him: "He tried to fight back. After that it was just disgusting."

The jury heard how McDonagh sent his mother a "farewell" text that night, and posted messages on Facebook to say he had "f***** up his life" and had "gone too far".

The court heard the victim had no record of any sexual convictions and his family were distraught at claims he was involved in such behaviour.

Green's lawyer Ian Bryce said she had a troubled background affected by issues relating to gender identity.

Mr Bryce added: "This conviction might set back any gender realignment surgery, as that has to be carried out in England."

Detective Chief Inspector David McLaren, of Police Scotland, said: "I hope the sentencing will allow Robert's family to begin to move on from this terrible episode. I hope the fact that the individuals responsible for his death will spend a considerable period of time in prison, offers them some comfort.

"I would also like to thank the witnesses who came forward in this case, in particular the person who initially alerted the police, as without their swift actions this may have resulted in the family of Robert Shankland being left without answers."