Teen, 18, guilty of civil servant Grindr murder

A teenager has been found guilty of viciously murdering a high-ranking civil servant he met via gay dating app Grindr.

Ben Bamford, 18, inflicted more than 40 injuries on Paul Jefferies, 52 - who reportedly advised ex-chancellor George Osborne's Treasury team - during a "sustained attack" at the latter's country cottage.

Among senior HM Revenue and Custom official Jefferies' numerous injuries was a slashed throat.

He was found naked with a tea towel over his head on a blood-covered kitchen floor in Mayfield, East Sussex.

Mr Jefferies had moved to Sussex from London about five years before his death following the breakdown of a relationship.

Lewes Crown Court heard how Bamford had sought to rob Mr Jefferies on February 23 after Bamford had built up drugs debts of around £400 which he was being pressurised to repay.

The court was told Bamford met Mr Jefferies via Grindr some two years before the killing when he was 15.

The pair resumed contact in December 2015 following a break.

But by this time, Bamford had got into drug debt and hoped Mr Jefferies would give him money, as he had done so in the past.

Jurors dismissed Bamford's claim he was protecting himself from Mr Jefferies who had "come on to him".

After leaving Mr Jefferies for dead on the kitchen floor at his Grade II-listed cottage, Bamford took his Audi TT car.

His mother, Annmarie Bamford, broke down in tears as the judge adjourned sentencing until Wednesday.