A DRUG dealer who shot and killed a man with an illegally-held sawn-off shotgun during a burglary at his address has been convicted of murder.

Adrian Frost fatally wounded 26-year-old Connor Batty, from Barnsley, when he shot him in the chest from the top of the staircase at his home in Barnsley Road, Hemsworth, on the night of September 11 last year.

Batty had been holding an imitation handgun when he broke into the property along with two other men, armed with a pickaxe handle and garden shears, in a burglary targeting Frost’s cannabis production and illicit wealth.

A neighbour had called police at 9.36pm reporting men trying to break into the address before Frost called 999 shortly afterwards to say he had shot someone trying to get into his house.

Armed officers attended the scene and found Batty lying unconscious outside the property.

Despite attempts to revive him, he was pronounced deceased at the scene by ambulance paramedics a short time later.

When Frost’s phone was later downloaded, officers found a message he had sent to his brother with a picture of Batty lying fatally wounded and a comment that he had done it.

He was also recorded on his home CCTV making a phone call to his brother in the immediate aftermath and at one point during the call was heard laughing and commenting ‘do you want an aspirin, mate?’ about Batty.

CCTV enquiries and witness accounts showed Batty and two accomplices had arrived at the address in a van and were initially scared away by Frost’s rottweiler dogs before returning and confronting him at the rear of the property and making demands.

Frost retreated inside and locked the door before going upstairs to his bedroom and loading the double-barrelled shotgun, which he had previously shortened by sawing the barrels and butt and which he kept down the side of his bed.

The back door was kicked open by Batty who passed through the kitchen and dining room into the hallway where he was then shot by Frost from above through the stair bannisters at a distance of less than one-and-a-half metres, causing a catastrophic injury.

In police interviews, Frost told officers he had slipped and the shotgun had been discharged accidentally, but at court he admitted lying about this and claimed he had been terrified and acted in self-defence.

Batty stumbled out of the address and collapsed and although his accomplices tried to pull him over the garden wall, they then fled leaving him behind.

When officers attended the scene, they found the imitation pistol next to Batty’s body but this was later confirmed to be a ball bearing gun.

When officers searched the address they found an array of other weapons throughout the house, including an illegal high-powered air rifle, a samurai sword, machetes, knuckle dusters and incapacitant spray, which is classed as a prohibited weapon under firearms law.

They also found a sophisticated cannabis-growing set-up on the top floor.

Batty’s accomplices were subsequently identified by police enquiries and arrested, and they were sentenced in May this year for their involvement in the incident.

Lewis Bromley, 26, of Rose Avenue, Darfield and Dylan Kelly, 24, of Locksley Gardens, Birdwell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of an imitation firearm while committing burglary, and possession of an offensive weapon in relation to a pickaxe handle.

Bromley was sentenced to a total of four years and six months in prison and Kelly to four years and four months.

Connor Turner, 29, of Schofield Road, Darfield pleaded guilty conspiracy to commit burglary and possession of an offensive weapon in relation to a pickaxe handle.

He was found not guilty of possession of an imitation firearm while committing burglary and was sentenced to a total of three years’ imprisonment.

Frost was initially charged over the sawn-off shotgun and cannabis production and was remanded in custody before later being charged with murder and other drug and weapons offences.

He pleaded guilty to possession of the sawn-off shotgun, production of cannabis, supplying cannabis, possession of incapacitant spray and abstraction of electricity.

He pleaded not guilty to the murder but was convicted following a trial that concluded at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday.

Temporary Detective Superintendent Matt Holdsworth said: “Although Connor Batty was committing an aggravated burglary targeting Frost’s cannabis growing set-up and illicit wealth and would have received a similar custodial sentence to his associates had he survived, he did not deserve to lose his life.

“Frost made no attempt to contact the police when he retreated inside his home and chose to arm himself with a gun and lay in wait before using a level of force that was grossly disproportionate.

“This is not a case of an ordinary member of the public defending his home in the heat of the moment using force that is disproportionate.

“The law caters for these circumstances.

“He was a drug dealer who had an illegally held sawn-off shotgun and ammunition immediately to hand to defend his criminal enterprise. He used deadly force without justification, and it is right that he has been prosecuted and held responsible for killing Connor.

“The jury has given full consideration to the circumstances and has found him guilty of murder.

“Connor’s family are innocent parties in this tragic situation, and our thoughts are with them as they continue to come to terms with their loss.”