And he said he would be prepared to "build the gallows" himself for his son's half brothers, who he had once cared for as his own flesh and blood.

Brothers Mark and James Baigent were both sentenced to life for the murder of Mr Scanlan, who was aged 35 when he was lured away from his home in Dicken's Street, Eastfield, Peterborough.

The Baigents wanted revenge on their hated half-brother and recruited friend Jeff Woods (37) to help carry out the killing. Father-of-three Mr Scanlan was later beheaded and had his hands chopped off before being buried in dense woodland.

Today, Malcolm Scanlan (62) told The Evening Telegraph that he had nothing but regret after not speaking to his son for the eight years before the grisly murder in November 2006.

And he said the first he heard of the murder was when he got a phone call from his niece who saw the story unfolding on television.

Talking from his one-bedroom flat in Hampshire, Mr Scanlan said: "I lost touch with Andrew seven or eight years ago.

"I didn't even know he had three children. I wasn't invited to the funeral and I don't even know where he's buried.

"I wouldn't say he was a good son, but he was better than most.

"Falling out with Andrew was the worst thing I ever did in my life. It is the biggest regret in my life not talking to Andrew for all those years. If I could go back and change that, I would.

"If there is one thing I could say to the three grandchildren, it is that I am here for them if they ever need me. Andrew, in his own way, would have really cared for those kids.

"Those two boys (the Baigent brothers) deserve everything they got. If hanging was still allowed, I would build the gallows myself for them."
During the trial it emerged that the Baigents blamed Andrew for the death of their mother, Linda. They felt the burden of looking after his three young children had caused her ill health.

Mr Scanlan added: "I never treated James or Mark different to Andrew while I was with Linda. I treated them as if they were my sons."

James Baigent, from Sandhurst, Surrey, was given a minimum term of 24 years, his brother Mark, of Medworth, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, was ordered to serve at least 22 years, while Woods, from Bracknell, Berkshire, will serve a minimum of 20.

James Baigent's wife, Charlotte (28), was convicted of helping the Baigents get rid of evidence linking them to the crime. She will be sentenced at a later date.

Special Report: Andrew Scanlan murder.