two brothers convicted of murdering Watford father Mahmood Ahmad were this morning handed a combined sentence of more than 50 years in prison.

Mr Ahmad, 40, was abducted from outside his home in Radlett Road and taken to a flat in Ilford, east London, where he was tortured to death last March.

His body was then dismembered and disposed of – the whereabouts of which are still unknown, except for a thumb and part of his hand that were found three days after he disappeared.

Following a ten-week trial at St Albans Crown Court, Mr Justice Cooke ordered that Mohammed Riaz, 34, must serve a minimum of 30 years after being found guilty of murder, kidnap, false imprisonment and three counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

His brother Sharif Mohammed, 37, was handed a 26 year sentence after being found guilty of murder, false imprisonment and two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Four other members of the gang were also sentenced for their part in the gruesome murder.

Amirzada Hussain, 37, was handed a 12-year sentence for manslaughter, false imprisonment and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Faisal Chowdhury and Arnold Yousaf, both 18, were given a three-and-a-half year sentence for kidnap and false imprisonment.

The final defendant, Sabra Sultana, 36, was found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and was sentenced to three years in prison.