The friend of a self-styled former gangster has been found guilty of killing him with a pickaxe handle on his smallholding.

Paul Groves, a 34-year-old factory worker of Queensway, Ongar, has been convicted of the murder of 39-year-old William Martindale, known as Billy, on Meadow View Farm in High Ongar.

Mr Martindale, a father of three, was found with head injuries on the farm, which he ran as a smallholding, in September.

Paramedics tried to revive him, but he died at the scene.

A jury at Chelmsford Crown Court found today that Groves, who lived close to Mr Martindale’s home in Cripsey Avenue, also in Ongar, and knew him as a friend, punched him, knocking him unconscious, before repeatedly hitting him with the weapon.

The attack followed a dispute over drugs.

Prosecutor Simon Spence QC said: “He struck him with the pickaxe handle to the back of the head at least twice, with sufficient blows to break the skin, so the skull was visible.”

Groves was also found guilty of beating up 55-year-old Paul Meeking on the farm the same evening, leaving him in hospital for four days.

Detective Inspector Marina Ericson said: "The evidence heard throughout the trial demonstrated the level of violence used by Paul Groves when he brutally attacked both Billy Martindale and Paul Meeking.

“Paul Groves is a violent man whose intention to cause serious harm to both Mr Martindale and Mr Meeking has been proven.

“We are delighted with today’s verdict.

“Our thoughts continue to go out to Billy’s family and friends at this time.

“We hope this verdict will provide them with some comfort and allow them to move on with their lives, following what has been a very distressing period for them.”

Mr Martindale, a father-of-three, had been with his partner, Tina Joseph, for 17 years.

He had himself been questioned by police over murders during a life of crime, but had vowed to change his life and wrote a book warning youngsters off a similar path.