Full marks to the Court of Appeal for refusing permission for one of the killers of hospital worker Tarquin Turner to appeal against his life sentence.

Mr Turner, of Eccleshill, was murdered in the grounds of Undercliffe Cricket Club in October 2003 by William Charlton and Carl Wood. Both received life sentences and Charlton was ordered to serve at least 14 years before he could be considered for release.

London's Criminal Appeal Court on Thursday quite rightly refused Charlton permission to appeal against this order. It seems quite rare these days to see sentences handed down in the courts upheld by the Appeal Court, and there is an expectation that sentences will automatically be reduced on appeal.

This was a savage killing of an innocent man and there is no reason why the sentence handed down by the trial judge should be interfered with.

There is a huge debate going on across the country right now about criminals who are released from prison early and go on to commit more heinous crimes. In this case, the trial was held and the judge who sat through all the evidence gave the sentence he felt was appropriate - and surely he was the person best placed to make that decision.

Those who commit terrible crimes should be prepared for the consequences of their actions and not expect to be treated more lightly by complaining about the severity of their sentence.