Five convicted of burglary at farm

Five men have been found guilty of a burglary where a man was found dead by his business partner.

The body of Julian Gardner, 52, was discovered at Bush Barn Farm, off the A21 near Robertsbridge, East Sussex, following the burglary on October 11 2010.

Today, a jury at Lewes Crown Court returned partial verdicts on six of the seven defendants being tried over the burglary at the property.

Marcus Bristow, 32, of Mock Lane, Great Chart, Kent, Lee Delay, 23, of Whitegate Close, Tunbridge Wells, Christopher Leek, 30, of Pear Tree Close, Cranbrook, Paul Dunn, 33, of Fryth Crescent, Cranbrook, and Oliver Payne, of Sandhurst Road, Tunbridge Wells, were all found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Terrence Dunn, 57, of Tanyards Estate, Sandhurst, Kent, was also found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, while Payne was found not guilty of manslaughter.

Judge Anthony Scott-Gall told the jury he would take majority verdicts on the outstanding charges of manslaughter against Delay, Leek, Dunn and Marcus Bristow.

The jury is yet to return verdicts on Terrence Bristow, 41, of Chart Road, Great Chart, near Ashford, Kent, who is charged with manslaughter, conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to pervert to course of justice.

Judge Scott-Gall asked the jury to retire to continue its deliberations.

PA