Man killed burglar who tried to steal his drugs

A man who was running a cannabis farm at his home shot dead an intruder who had broken in to steal the drugs.

Adrian Frost gunned down 26-year-old Connor Batty with an illegally held sawn-off shotgun at his property in Barnsley Road, Hemsworth, last September.

Police said Batty was holding an imitation gun when he broke into the 61-year-old's home along with two other men in a burglary "targeting Frost's cannabis production and illicit wealth".

He was found guilty of murder following a trial at Leeds Crown Court and will be sentenced on Monday.

A neighbour had called police on the evening of 11 September reporting men trying to break into the property before Frost called 999 shortly after to say he had shot an intruder.

When police arrived, Batty was found lying unconscious outside the property and pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said when Frost's phone was examined, they found a message he had sent to his brother with a picture of Batty lying on the floor and a comment stating that he had done it.

He was also recorded on his home CCTV making a phone call to his sibling in the immediate aftermath and was heard laughing in respect of Batty saying "do you want an aspirin mate".

Police said CCTV had shown Batty and two other men had gone to the property but were initially scared away by Frost's Rottweilers before returning and making demands.

At that point, Frost retreated inside and locked the door before going upstairs and loading the double-barrelled shotgun which he kept down the side of his bed.

Batty then kicked down the back door and went through to the hallway where he was shot by Frost who was stood at the top of his stairs.

Police said Batty stumbled outside and collapsed while the other men, who tried to pull him over the garden wall, fled and left him behind.

When police searched Frost's home, they found a "sophisticated cannabis growing set-up" on the top floor and paperwork showing he had bought £147,000 in silver bullion, despite having no legitimate source of income.

They also found other weapons, including an illegal high-powered air rifle, a samurai sword, machetes, knuckle dusters and incapacitant spray.

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

Det Supt Matt Holdsworth said although Batty was "committing an aggravated burglary targeting Frost's cannabis growing set-up and illicit wealth" and would have been jailed had he survived, "he did not deserve to lose his life".

The officer added: "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."

Meanwhile, Batty's accomplices were sentenced earlier after admitting their involvement.

Lewis Bromley, 26, of no fixed abode and Dylan Kelly, 24, of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of an imitation firearm while committing burglary, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Bromley was jailed for four years and six months while Kelly was given a sentence of four years and four months.

A third man - Connor Turner - who was not present at the burglary, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and possession of an offensive weapon.

The 29-year-old, of Schofield Road in Darfield, Barnsley, was jailed for three years.

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