A GANG leader convicted of a murder was taunted by his victim's brother as he was led away to begin a life sentence.

Thomas Hanley - whose brother, Michael, was shot dead outside Sheridan's bar in Ravensthorpe - leaned over the public gallery at Leeds Crown Court to shout at Shane Thomas as he was jailed for at least 25 years.

Mr Hanley thrust his thumb downwards and shouted: "Twenty-five, twenty-five. Do it!" at Thomas, who replied with an insulting remark about Mr Hanley's family.

The dramatic scenes came yesterday as Thomas and his gang were sentenced for the murder of 23-year-old Michael Hanley, from Harehills in east Leeds.

Darren Foley, 19, of Dalton, fired the bullet which killed Mr Hanley after a fight inside Sheridan's.

He changed his plea to guilty during the trial earlier this year.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox QC, sentenced him to life, with a minimum of 18 years before he would be considered for parole.

Judge Fox said: "In my judgement you did not intend to kill Mr Hanley, but rather cause him really serious injury.

"You were passed the gun only about a minute before you fired it."

But the judge passed a harsher sentence on Thomas, 24, of Manchester Road, Longroyd Bridge.

He gave him life with a minimum tariff of 25 years for the murder and a concurrent sentence of seven years for conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Judge Fox said: "You knew that one or another of the gang which you led had a gun and live ammunition."

He said Thomas had directed the shooting after the fight in Sheridan's. Judge Fox added: "Having fallen out with Michael Hanley in the nightclub over a trivial matter - or nothing at all - you directed that he be shot by one of your followers."

Thomas's half-brother Jamie Hislop, 22, from Sheepridge and 21-year-old Igor Simic, of Berry Brow, were each given five years for conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Judge Fox told them: "You each joined in a reign of fear which affected a number of potential witnesses."

Earlier the court heard of the four men's criminal history.

Thomas has previous convictions for supplying class A drugs, violence and robbery.

Hislop has no previous convictions but was given a penalty notice for threatening behaviour in 2005.

Simic was given a conditional discharge for battery and was cautioned for threatening behaviour.

Foley has committed offences relating to possession of class A and B drugs.

Last August 26 he was caught in Doncaster Prison with a small amount of cannabis which a visitor had passed to him.

He pleaded guilty to the offence on March 13.