A DRUG dealer who fatally shot a Barnsley man has been given a life sentence for murder.

Adrian Frost killed 26-year-old Connor Batty, from Hoyland, 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 other Barnsley men - armed with a pickaxe handle and garden shears - in a burglary targeting Frost’s cannabis grow.

Frost, 61, was convicted of his murder following a unanimous verdict by the jury at his trial which concluded at Leeds Crown Court last week.

On Monday, he was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 27 years.

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

When his phone was 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.

Temporary Detective Superintendent Matt Holdsworth said: “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 Batty.”

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.

Temp Det Supt Matt Holdsworth added: “Although Connor 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.

“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.”