Builder Michael Chudley has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years for the murder of Devizes solicitor Jim Ward.

Chudley, 63, previously of Kingfisher House, Rowde, was also sentenced at salisbury Crown Court this morning to five years for two counts of possessing a firearm and seven years for the threats to kill charge. These will run concurrently with the life sentence.

DCI Ian Saunders, who led the investigation, said: "Jim, aged 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.

"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.

"Shortly before 3 pm on Monday 2nd July 2012, he walked into the MGW Law building in Devizes with a sawn off shotgun and threatened to shoot the terrified secretary if she didn’t take him to Jim. He entered Jim’s office, aimed and shot him in the head. He then calmly walked out to his car.

"Jim’s wife, Nicky, was in the building at the time 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 Jim’s life. Members of the public and an off duty paramedic rushed to assist and give first aid.

"Meanwhile, Chudley had driven to Kingfisher House. He was sat on a wall with the gun when he was arrested a short time later. He told officers he had planned to shoot Jim and then kill himself but couldn’t bring himself to carry out the final part of his plan.

"Jim Ward sadly died in hospital a few weeks later despite the best efforts of the medical team.

"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 Jim’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."