The family of a boy who died after suffering months of abuse at the hands of his adoptive parents have welcomed a decision not to cut the couple's jail sentences.

Guardians Simon and Michelle McWilliam, formerly of Gardner Road, Fishersgate, Southwick, were jailed for eight years at Lewes Crown Court in October last year for a catalogue of cruelty to John Smith which left him with injuries likened to those on a battered boxer.

The Court of Appeal yesterday dismissed an application by Mr and Mrs McWilliam's solicitors for shorter sentences.

Four-year-old John, who had been in their care for six months, died of a brain haemorrhage on Christmas Eve 1999. His body was found to be covered with 54 bruises, including Mr McWilliam's bite marks.

John's grandfather, James Sweeney, 72, from Hove, said: "I'm over the moon they have not been let out early. Nothing will ever bring John back but hopefully we can start putting this behind us."

Mr Sweeney and his family have been campaigning alongside The Argus for a change in the law since John's death.

To their dismay, Mr and Mrs McWilliam could not be tried for murder because it was not known who inflicted the fatal blows.

The Argus and John's family are asking for couples in such cases to be able to be charged with murder instead of the lesser charge of cruelty.

At yesterday's hearing, Mr McWilliam's counsel Peter Forbes said the sentences were too harsh for a cruelty case.

Mrs McWilliam's counsel Ali Naseem Bajwa said as John was the first child to have been placed in her care, she needed more support from social services.

However, Mr Justice Hughes and Mr Justice Royce rejected their pleas.

Mr Royce said: "While it is correct a sentence of eight years was at the top end of the appropriate bracket, we are not persuaded it would be right to interfere with the sentences."

The campaign by The Argus has been backed by Sussex Police and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which is today calling on the Government to re-examine the laws governing child murder cases at a conference at Cambridge University.