TWO men were jailed for a minimum of 25 years each yesterday for murdering a 91-yearold widow after breaking into her home as she slept.

A jury at the High Court in Kilmarnock found Patrick Docherty and Brendan Dixon guilty of killing Margaret Irvine in her flat in Galston, Ayrshire.

The case against the third accused, James Miller, 32, was found not proven.

The frail pensioner, who lived alone, was bound and beaten before a duster was shoved in her mouth and a pillowcase pulled over her head.

She was found lying on her bed by her home help on September 28, 2003.

Dixon was also found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

Docherty had 54 previous convictions, including two for assault and robbery. Dixon had 30 previous convictions, four of which involved violence.

Jailing the men for life, Lord Hardie told Docherty, 41, and Dixon, 36, their crime was "beyond the comprehension of all decent people".

During the four-week trial, the jury heard Docherty and Dixon broke into Mrs Irvine's home, switched off the electricity and struggled with the pensioner. They then tied her hands behind her back and punched her. Mrs Irvine died of asphyxiation after a duster was forced into her mouth.

Docherty, of Hillcrest, Bellsbank, in Dalmellington, and Dixon, whose address was given as Kilmarnock prison, denied the charges and lodged special defences of alibi.

Docherty was ordered to return to the dock seconds after he was led away after he said to the jury: "I hope you can sleep at night."

Lord Hardie said the remark "distressed more than one" of the jurors. He told Docherty he was guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to a year in prison, to run consecutively with his life sentence.

Earlier, as the guilty verdicts were read out, there were cries of "Yes" from the public gallery.

Docherty shook his head while Dixon remained impassive, but Miller turned and smiled broadly at his relatives as he was acquitted.

Lord Hardie told him he was free to leave the dock, but it is understood he was detained in custody with another matter.

Sentencing Docherty and Dixon, Lord Hardie said: "Your actions defy description and were beyond the comprehension of all decent people."

The judge told the court the two had attacked Mrs Irvine in "the sanctity of her own home" with a view to robbing her of her life savings.

He said Mrs Irvine was frail, vulnerable and infirm, but despite that was subjected to a horrific attack. Lord Hardie said: "Such an assault is properly described as wickedly reckless.

"There may even have been intent to kill. Whatever the case, it was truly evil."

Dixon was also sentenced to five years for attempting to defeat the ends of justice. The term will run concurrently with his 25-year minimum term.

Elizabeth Duncan, of Help the Aged in Scotland, today welcomed the sentences.

She said: "The sentences ? send a very strong message at a time when it is sorely needed, namely, that vicious attacks on vulnerable older people will simply not be tolerated in our society.

"Statistically we know that older people are the least at risk of violent crime, but the publicity generated by cases such as this can raise the fear of crime.

"We know that worrying about crime can often have a deteriorating effect on older people's health."