A man has been found guilty of possessing an air rifle while breaking into a village convenience store in the early hours of the morning.

Lyam Michael John Bull, 23, and co-accused Reece Evnez, 18, broke into The Old Telephone Exchange in Broadwindsor in an attempt to steal cash and cigarettes, at around 1.15am on May 2, 2018.

Police arrived at the scene 10 minutes after receiving a 999 call from a neighbour and arrested the pair. Two air rifles were later found in the back of Evnez’s car.

The pair admitted burgling the shop but denied two charges of possessing a firearm while carrying out the offence.

Bull also denied two further charges of possessing a firearm while prohibited from doing so.

Following a two-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court, a jury found Bull guilty of one count of possessing a firearm while committing an offence and one count of possessing a firearm while prohibited.

Evnez was cleared of both the charges he faced.

Bull, of Railway Crossing, Bradpole, and Evnez, of North Allington, Bridport, are due to be sentenced at the same court on Friday, March 1.