Builder Michael Chudley has been found guilty on all counts by a jury at Salisbury Crown Court.

After deliberations lasting little more than two hours, the jury rejected Chudley's manslaughter plea on grounds of diminished responsibility.

They decided he was guilty of murdering solicitor Jim Ward last July.

The court was told 63-year-old Chudley walked into the offices of MGW Law in St John's Street, Devizes, and shot Mr Ward in the head with a sawn-off shotgun.

Mr Ward, a father-of-three, died three weeks later of his injuries.

Chudley will be sentenced tomorrow.

Mr Ward, 58, was a family man and a successful, respected solicitor. He was representing a client who was involved in a protracted legal dispute with Chudley regarding building work.

In a statement issued this afternoon by Wiltshire Police, DCI Ian Saunders, who led the investigation said: "Chudley has a history of being an angry, paranoid, litigious man and when he lost the case he blamed Jim Ward.

"He didn’t get what he wanted and decided to get revenge.

"At the time of the shooting Mr Ward’s wife, Nicky, was in the building and the utter fear and distress that she and the other members of staff suffered is unimaginable.

"They were faced with a cold, calm gun man and a battle to save Mr Ward’s life. Members of the public and an off duty paramedic rushed to assist and give first aid.

"Chudley has shown no remorse and by his own admission does not know the meaning of the word.

"He admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility on day one of the trial as a result of a paranoid personality disorder.

"He insists that he has no memory of the shooting, however this has been discredited by a forensic psychiatrist. On the final day of the trial he pleaded guilty to three additional counts involving the firearm and threatening to kill the secretary, Daphne Courtney.

"Having heard all of the evidence presented, the jury has found that Chudley intended to murder or do serious harm to Jim Ward.

"Anger, resentment and revenge fueled Chudley’s actions that day and the consequences have changed the lives of Mr Ward's family forever.

"I would like to thank my team, colleagues at the Crown Prosecution Service and to commend the family of Jim Ward for their dignity throughout this difficult time."