THE family of a teenager whose death remained a riddle for almost a quarter of a century hailed “justice at last” as his killer was jailed for 11 years.

David Pryke and Caroline Doyle were in court to see Mark Masefield locked up for killing their brother Anthony and dumping his body down a drain.

Masefield finally admitted killing the 17-year-old at court earlier this month – ending the anguish of the teenager’s family over his death in August 1987.

Birmingham Crown Court earlier heard David, who was arrested on suspicion of murder following the discovery of his brother’s body, had lived with people believing hehad killed Anthony for the past25 years.

In a statement read for them on the steps of the court, he and Caroline said: “The way Anthony was killed and the disrespectful way his body was hidden for months in a manhole is heart-wrenching.

“Masefield could have saved us years of trauma if he had taken responsibility for his crime earlier.

“This is not about the sentence but about finally getting justice for Anthony and also for clearing David’s name, who some had blamed for Anthony’s death.”

Jailing Masefield, Judge William Davis QC told him: “You disposed of his body in the most appalling way with no respect for him and for his memory.