The family of a Bradford businessman who was tortured and murdered have said they would fight to keep his killers behind bars for the rest of their days after a failed bid for freedom.

Four men who were jailed over a botched robbery plot which left great-grandad Edward “Teddy” Simpson dead from a catalogue of injuries yesterday failed in appeals against their convictions.

Mr Simpson was beaten and tortured to death and dumped in Wyke, after a gang of raiders struck at his home in Sticker Lane, Laisterdyke, looking for cash.

Five men were ultimately convicted of his murder and conspiracy to rob.

Yesterday, Anthony Paul Davies, 29, and Darren Trevor Martin, 39, both from Bradford, failed in appeals against the convictions.

Another two – John Daniels, 37, of Bradford, and Anthony Vincent Neale, 30, of Harehills, Leeds – were convicted only of conspiracy to rob, and also lost their appeals against those counts.

A statement released by the Simpson family said: “The family are extremely pleased at this result.

“It will not bring Teddy back or ease any pain caused by the tragic loss to our family.

“There is no doubt that the crime of murder was committed but they tried to use a loophole in the justice system to gain freedom. Our family will mourn the loss of Teddy forever.”

The statement said that Daniels, who was known as JD, Davies, who was known as “Jigga”, Martin and Neale should never be released.

“They should hang them for such a heinous crime, but failing that they did the crime and they should do the time,” the family said. “They’ve got to pay for it. Our family will fight to keep them where they are for the rest of their days.”

Lord Justice Richards, who heard the case at the Court of Appeal in London with Mr Justice Griffith Williams and Judge Peter Rook QC, said there was no reason to doubt the safety of the verdicts.

Mr Simpson’s body was found dumped at a disused nursing home on August 2, 2007, naked except for his underpants, a pair of trousers binding his legs and a top wrapped around his neck.

The 56-year-old had suffered 56 external injuries, including a tear to the ear, while his facial skeleton had been shattered by blows, causing brain damage.

The four men were convicted after a member of their group – Sonny Stewart, then of Hope Avenue, Bankfoot, Bradford – agreed to give evidence against them. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.

Stewart said that he, Davies and Daniels had hatched a robbery plot and that Neale had been enlisted to find someone to carry out the raid. He said Martin delivered a replica handgun for use in the raid and gave evidence that Martin had also been involved in the actual violence.

In their appeal, lawyers argued before the three judges that it was wrong for the crown court judge to allow Stewart’s evidence into the trial.

But, rejecting the arguments, Lord Justice Richards said it was not an “abuse of process” for the prosecution to adduce the evidence and it did not make the trial unfair.

Davies, of Lloyds Drive, Low Moor, Bradford, and Martin, of Markfield Avenue, also Low Moor, were both given life sentences. Davies was ordered to serve at least 35 years and Martin a minimum of 24 years. The judges today upheld Davies’ minimum term.

Daniels, of Cutler Heights Lane, Bradford, was given 13 years for the robbery plot and Neale, of Harehills, Leeds, was given 12 years.