The parents of murdered Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones have branded the sentences handed to those who helped her son's killer as disgusting.
Heartbroken Melanie and Stephen Jones spoke out after a Judge dished out a lenient seven years to the man who provided the weapon to the teenage killer.
Sean Mercer, 18 was sentenced to a minimum of 22 years for shooting Rhys dead in the car park of the Fir Tree pub, Croxteth in August 2007.
Four members from the same gang as Mercer appeared before Liverpool Crown Court after being found guilty of helping him evade the police.
James Yates, 20, was given seven years, Dean Kelly, 17, received four years, Nathan Quinn, 18, two years and Boy M, 16, was given a two year supervision order.
Speaking after the hearing, Rhys' parents Stephen and Melanie Jones said: "These sentences can in no way compensate for the loss of our loving son who had the world and his future at his feet.
"We are disgusted at the seven-year sentence given to Sean Mercer's accomplice, James Yates.
"In our minds he is the one who provided the gun that killed our son."
Yates, of Dodman Road; Quinn, of Wickett Close; Kelly, of Sword Walk, and Boy M, all from the Croxteth, were found guilty of assisting an offender along with fellow Croxteth Crew members Gary Kays, 26, and Melvin Coy, 25.
The 9-week jury trial heard all six accomplices helped to destroy evidence and hid the murder weapon from the police.
After shooting Rhys, Mercer, of Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, fled the scene on a bike before he was washed in petrol and had his clothes burned.
At the sentencing Judge Justice Irwin said to Yates: "There is strong evidence you were a gang member who was trusted by Mercer.
"You and Quinn were first on the scene at the house of Boy M.
"I have no doubt you were a willing assistant helping in any way you could to dispose of the gun and to travel to Kirkby."
Coy, of Mallard Close and Kays, of Abbeyfield Drive, have already been jailed for seven years.
After the sentencing, Det Supt Dave Kelly of Merseyside Police, said: "This has been a long and difficult investigation, particularly for members of Rhys's family and the witnesses who helped secure these convictions."
"Ultimately nothing can bring Rhys back, but we hope that his family can find some peace in the fact that justice has been served.
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