A family are "delighted" after two women who tried to help conceal a 39-year-old man's murder have been told they cannot appeal their sentences.

Peter Beale, from Sittingbourne, was killed after he was stabbed by Billy Dole back in 2018.

His death followed a drugs deal that went wrong when he robbed a dealer of crack cocaine, cash and a watch. His body was found by Rochester Bridge in September of that year.

Dole, 28, pleaded guilty to murder at Maidstone Crown Court in March last year and Levi Webb, 23, admitted manslaughter in December. Both are due to be sentenced next month.

Dole's partner, Rachel Woods and her mum Linda Harris were found guilty of "carefully crafting" the murderer's escape from justice.

As police closed in on Dole, he fled for Turkey, and the pair assisted him in booking flights.

Harris drove him to the airport and the couple switched phones and devised a code when texting one another in an attempt to cover their tracks.

They referred to the killing and his subsequent escape using the words 'wedding' and 'venue'.

Harris was sentenced to three years and five months in prison and Woods to three years and 10 months, after both were found guilty of assisting an offender.

During the sentencing, DCI Tristan Kluibenschadl said: "These two offenders knowingly, and willingly, attempted to help Billy Dole escape justice despite knowing he was wanted for a serious offence.

"Their actions showed a complete disregard for the victim, and the pain his family would have been experiencing, and I am pleased we were able to quickly disprove their attempts to hinder our investigation and that they have now faced justice."

But just four months into their jail term, Mr Beale's sister, Sharna Best, was told by the family's police liaison officer that the pair were trying to appeal their sentences.

"I called my mum who burst into tears with delight"

She said: "We are devastated. It is an insult and putting salt in our wounds - we haven't had time to grieve.

"We don't condone my brother's actions on that fateful night but he didn't deserve to brutally murdered."

She added: "We feel let down - all we want is justice for what they did to my brother - we haven't been able to breathe, it has just been one thing after another throughout this nightmare."

However, following a hearing today at the Court of Appeal in London, both Woods and Harris have been refused applications to appeal.

Ms Best said: "We are delighted at hearing this news.

"I called my mum who burst into tears with delight and then I told my other siblings. We are all thankful it got denied."

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