AN EVIL dad and son were branded “cowardly monsters” over the horror murders of two innocent men who were stabbed, beaten and mutilated in a savage crime that left hardened cops sickened.

Ian and Dean MacLeod hacked off victim Derek Johnston’s ears, severed his nose and lip and drove nails into his eyes.

The torturers used a hammer, Stanley knife and machetes to inflict 136 injuries on their second victim — neighbour Desmond Rowlings, 66.

The letters YLT — believed to stand for Edinburgh street gang Young Leith Team — were burned on to both victims’ corpses while cops later found some of their body parts in a rucksack belonging to the pair.

Caging both fiends for at least 34 years, judge Lord Arthurson said the violence was “extreme, sustained and prolonged”.

He told them: “This is one of the worst cases of murder to come before the High Court.”

The court heard how MacLeod Jnr, 42, had earlier bought two hammers, forensic suits, plastic overshoes and goggles.

Former football hooligan Ian MacLeod — known as Bronco — then separately lured both victims to their death at his home in the capital’s Craigmillar.

Days before the murders Mr Johnston, 37, of the city’s Liberton, had told a neighbour how he feared for his life, warning the pair “were out to kill him”.

But he went to MacLeod’s home on October 30, 2022 — and would never be seen again alive, the High Court in the city heard.

Late that night, the maniac, 66, went to his victim’s pad to collect his dog before returning later.

The next day the sadist invited retired joiner Mr Rowlings — about to celebrate his 67th birthday — into his home.

Suspicions were raised within hours when the victim’s partner called to wish him a happy birthday and he didn’t answer his phone.

She went to his flat where she found the TV and lights on and his car outside but no one home.

Cops were alerted and made the gruesome discovery after forcing their way into MacLeod’s home.

Advocate depute Gavin Anderson told how Mr Rowlings’ body was found under the living room window, covered by a blanket.

He added: “A Stanley knife, hammer and blowtorch were found beside him.

“He had sustained significant injuries to his head and body, including the partial removal of his ears and nose, as well as multiple stab wounds to the face.”

Meanwhile Mr Johnston’s mutilated remains had been dumped in the bath, covered by a rug.

Describing the chilling find, Mr Anderson added: “A hammer was embedded in his head. A nail was protruding from each eyeball.”

Mr Anderson said the nails were driven into Mr Johnston’s eyes, plus his left ear and nose tip removed after death.

He was found with 28 separate head, neck and limb injuries including multiple head blows.

Tests showed he’d been alive for “at least a few hours” after the injuries were first inflicted but may not have been conscious.

Meanwhile Mr Rowlings had 136 distinct injuries to his head, neck, chest, back and limbs.

Cops found a note in the blood-spattered flat written by Dean MacLeod — nicknamed “Denim” — which read: “What we done was evil and sadistic but I have pleaded for help for decades.”

It emerged the killers had driven away from the horror then taken heroin substitute methadone in a suicide bid.

They were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where Dean MacLeod smashed waiting- room tables and told of “persistent thoughts of mutilating people”.

The killer claimed he adored his father who was “a pure warrior of a man”, the court heard.

After cops traced the pair they searched Dean MacLeod’s rucksack in which they found a pouch containing part of Mr Johnston’s ear, a piece of Mr Rowlings’ nose and bits of both men’s flesh.

The warped duo admitted murdering Mr Johnston between October 30 and November 1, 2022, by repeatedly striking him on the head with a Stanley knife and a machete and hitting him on the head with a hammer.

They also admitted burning the letters into his forehead, severing an ear and part of his nose and forced nails through his eyes.

They pled guilty to murdering Mr Rowlings by repeatedly striking him on the head and body with a Stanley knife and machetes and repeatedly striking him on the head and body with a hammer.

They burnt the letters ‘VT’, ‘YT’ and ‘YLT’ on his body with the blowtorch and severed parts of his nose and upper lip and cut off his ears.

Prosecutor Mr Anderson said: “The Crown cannot say which deceased died first, although the findings would be consistent with Mr Johnston having died first.

“The Crown cannot say if Mr Johnston was already dead by the time Mr Rowlings entered the locus, although that is possible.”

Echoing a bereaved loved one, Lord Arthurson described the double murder as “the cowardly actions of monsters”.

Moira Orr, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “These were brutal and senseless killings.

“Their actions inflicted untold distress on victims’ families, especially Derek’s mother and sister and Desmond’s two daughters and partner.”

Detective Superintendent Susan Balfour added: “My thoughts remain with Derek and Desmond’s families. They have had to endure unimaginable pain and trauma.

“These crimes were some of the most violent I have seen.

“People are safer now that these two men are in prison.”