Two men have been convicted of the murder of businessman Guy Hedger who was shot dead during a botched burglary at his £1 million home.

The 61-year-old was killed after intruders entered his home in Castlewood, Ashley, near Ringwood, at about 3am on April 30, 2017.

Kevin Downton, aged 40, of Winterborne Stickland, near Blandford and Jason Baccus, aged 42, of Verney Close, Bournemouth, found guilty following a 40-day trial at Winchester Crown Court.

A third defendant, Scott Keeping, 44, also of Verney Close, was found not guilty of murder and his wife, Helen Keeping, 40, was also cleared of two counts of assisting an offender.

Downton and Baccus showed no emotion as the verdicts were announced although gasps could be heard from the public gallery.

The pair were also convicted of offences of aggravated burglary with a firearm, possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and two charges of burglary of industrial buildings.

Scott Keeping was also cleared of these offences.

Prosecutor Nigel Lickley QC told the jury that Downton and Baccus, wearing masks, stormed into the bedroom where Mr Hedger was with his husband Simon Hedger-Cooper, and ordered both naked men to face the wall.

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The trial heard that Downton shot Mr Hedger, pictured above, with a sawn-off shotgun after Mr Hedger-Cooper set off a panic alarm causing the thieves to flee.

In a video interview shown to the jury, Mr Hedger-Cooper, 48, described how his partner began to tell the raiders the code for their personal safe but then froze.

He said: "All the alarms outside went on and flashing, alarms going off. As it happened I heard an almighty boom, shot, and Guy said 'I have been hit, I have been hit'."

The court was told that jewellery and other high-value items such as Louis Vuitton bags worth a total of £124,000 were stolen during the raid, much of which has not been recovered by police.

Mr Hedger-Cooper said: "Many of the items taken from our home hold great sentimental value and are very important to me."

Items stolen included a Pandora bracelet which Mr Hedger had given to his partner of 10 years and which had charms including their star signs and a bible.

Other items taken included a 14 carat gold ring with rubies and emeralds, a Tiffany necklace and several watches, including brands Amadeus and Cartier.

Also stolen were a Louis Vuitton wash bag worth about £650 given to Mr Hedger-Cooper by his partner for Christmas 2012 and a larger bag of the same brand worth £1,200.

Much of the stolen jewellery was found discarded in various locations around the area with parts of the gun found in the River Stour near Canford Parish Church.

Mr Hedger was a director of the Avonbourne International Business and Enterprise Trust, which runs colleges and a primary school in the Bournemouth area.

The jury was told by the prosecution that Baccus was the second man in the house while Keeping remained in the getaway car outside.

Mr Lickley said that a search of Downton's Vauxhall Astra found a number of items in a hidden space in the ceiling including a snood which had gunshot residue on it as well as a mobile phone and SIM card linked to the raid.

Downton denied being involved in the raid and told the jury that he had been involved in a burglary earlier that night at Apple Snacks sandwich shop on the Ebblake industrial estate, Verwood.

He said he had stolen a safe and had taken it to some woods near to Castlewood to try to break into it but failed.

Baccus, a life-long criminal, also admitted being part of the Apple Snacks break-in, but said he was not involved in the fatal burglary and had only provided a car for Downton to use that night.

Drug-addict Mr Keeping said that he had stayed at home that night after drinking while watching the television, an alibi which was supported by his wife who denied selling on the stolen property.

Sentencing Baccus Downton, judge Mr Justice Jay told them that "it was a series of elementary but stupid decisions that led to your arrest".

He added that the planning of the raid "was amateurish and incompetent", but said it didn't "diminish the culpability of what happened".

"You may have been out of your own depths, that was your decision, but the risk of taking a loaded gun into someone's bedroom was evident to you as to anyone," he said.

"The tragedy was on the cards."

Speaking to Downton, he added: "You have a cold, callous streak and show no remorse."

And to Baccus, he said: "I would not describe you as ruthless but I have seen no signs of remorse from you."

After sentencing, John Montague from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "These men planned to break into Mr Hedger's home and steal high-value items. Kevin Downton was armed with a sawn-off shotgun.

"The defendants denied murdering Mr Hedger but the CPS was able to paint a clear picture for the jury demonstrating how the men planned the crime. The evidence put forward by prosecutors showed it could only have been them who were involved.

"It did not matter who pulled the trigger as both defendants were aware a gun had been taken to the address and was likely to be used if the burglary did not go as planned."

The husband of businessman Guy Hedger has paid tribute to his partner, whose last hours were spent "full of terror, fear and pain".

In a victim impact statement read to Winchester Crown Court, Mr Hedger's husband, Simon Hedger-Cooper, 48, said that he was devastated at his death.

He said: "Guy was an intelligent, creative, caring and gentle man.

"Guy worked hard his whole adult life, he deserved what he had worked for, he deserved to enjoy the fruits of his labour and he deserved to still be with me today."

He added: "No-one deserves to have their life ended in such an abrupt way. I pray that he is now at peace."

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Derbyshire, of Dorset Police’s MCIT, said: “Kevin Downton and Jason Baccus targeted Guy and Si and carried out this horrendous violent crime in the very place they should have been safe. 

“Nothing will ever bring Guy back but I hope the verdict of the jury will bring some level of comfort that his attackers are firmly behind bars."

She added: “This lengthy and complex investigation involved a large team working tirelessly to secure all available evidence against these two men. This has included taking many statements, overseeing the thorough searches of a number of properties, vehicles, open areas and river beds. I would like to praise all staff involved."