THE heartbroken family of a murdered man have justice for the loving dad who could never do enough for them now his 'evil' killer is facing life behind bars.

Christopher Parkinson, the eldest son of Neil Parkinson, said the family had justice at last for the loving and caring father and grandfather, callously-murdered by handyman Mark Chilman.

Chilman simply could not accept that former partner, Juliet Adcock, had found love with someone else, having formed a new relationship with Mr Parkinson.

How we reported the verdict

The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict this morning following a murder trial at Worcester Crown Court which began last Monday.

The 52-year-old defendant closed his eyes in the dock as he learned the jury had seen through the web of lies he wove.

Despite it being a complex case, the jury took just three hours and nine minutes deliberating due to the strength of the case against him.

Calculating Chilman hit Mr Parkinson hard over the back of the head with a weapon with a straight edge, a blow which fractured the base of his skull.

Chilman then set him on fire while he was still alive but unconscious in a layby in Ankerdine Road, Cotheridge, near Worcester on December 12 last year.

Not only was the retired 66-year-old of Clifton upon Teme a loving father to his two sons, Christopher, 42, and Jack, 25, but a 'fabulous, brilliant grandfather' to his two grandchildren and thought the world of his elderly mother, caring for her during her battle against dementia, preparing her meals for her.

But the jury who convicted Chilman today saw through his lies as he attempted to 'besmirch' the reputation of the man he had so callously murdered by trying to convince them that the 'happy' and caring man was leading a 'double life'.

Chilman even sent a 'suicide text' purporting to be from Mr Parkinson to Ms Adcock on an unregistered phone he bought in Malvern, trying to convince her that her new partner had killed himself.

Mr Parkinson, speaking minutes after the guilty verdict, said: "Neil was a loving, caring, happy person who enjoyed life to the full; his infectious personality will be missed by all of his family and friends in our local community and further afield that he had met throughout his life.

"We would like to express our thanks to all parties involved in bringing the evil, calculated individual to justice that took Neil from us.

"This includes the Police force members that have been involved from the tragic start, throughout court and continue to support us at this heartbreaking time.

"We would also like to express our gratitude to the courts and jury members that have heard the case."

He added: "As a family it has been a very difficult eight months and our lives have been been changed forever.

"The result from court today means we can have some peace now that the individual responsible for Neil's death will spend time within the prison system away from society.

"We will take a small amount of comfort that at least he cannot cause harm or grief to anyone else like he did to us and or family. We hope during his time in prison he reflects and regrets his actions."

Christopher Parkinson, who gave evidence in the trial, spoke of the family's sense of release as the guilty verdict was announced. Carol Parkinson, married to Christopher for 10 years and mother to his children, said their two children 'doted on Neil'.

The family will return to see Chilman sentenced by Judge James Burbidge QC, who presided over the trial, at Worcester Crown Court on Monday. The case was prosecuted by Mark Heywood QC and his junior Andrew Wallace.