Three murderers have today been jailed for life for the brutal killing of a teenager in a Woodford Green field.

James Danby, 27, of no fixed abode, Tony O’Toole, 30, and Emma Hall, 21, both of Crow Lane Romford, were last week convicted of murdering 18-year-old Luke Harwood.

Danby will serve a minimum of 25 years, O’Toole will serve a minimum of 17 years and Hall will be jailed for at least 15 years.

Luke was beaten to death in May last year on the day he moved into the shared house where Hall and O’Toole lived.

Another woman visiting the house had falsely accused the teen of raping her two years previously. She told the others what had happened and Danby,assisted by O’Toole, viciously attacked Luke.

The trio then bundled him into a car and drove to playing fields in Broadmead Road, Woodford Green, where they murdered him.

They returned the next day with the intention of mutilating Luke’s body so it could not be identified, but Hall tipped off police who arrested them at the scene.

The trio were also found guilty of perverting the course of justice for burning items of clothing linked to the murder.

Danby and O’Toole were also found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice for plotting to mutilate Luke’s dead body.

Billy Duggan 20, who lived in the house in Crow Lane, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and sentenced to two years, suspended for two years, meaning he walked free.

Speaking after the sentencing, Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "The attack on Luke Harwood was unbelievably violent.

"The injuries he suffered were horrific, his face was unrecognisable.

"The defendants acted in the belief that the victim had previously attacked one of their number.

"The woman involved was in no way to blame for the extreme and sustained attack that they then carried out and subsequently tried to cover up, she could not have predicted what would happen.

"She has been crucial as a witness and I would like to commend her bravery in helping us achieve these convictions today.

"There can be no excuse for the way the defendants acted and tried to take the law into their own hands.

“None of those convicted have taken responsibility for their actions, none of them have shown any remorse."

Speaking after the convictions, Luke's family issued a statement in which they described him as a much-loved son, brother, partner, father, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend.