A GARAGE owner has been found guilty of the manslaughter of former bomb disposal expert Mark Manning.

Colin Gale, 40, of Offington Lane, Worthing, was convicted by a majority decision by a jury at Lewes Crown Court this afternoon.

He was cleared of the murder of Mr Manning, 54, from Lancing, at the garage he ran, P&B Car Sales in Western Road in Worthing.

However the jury found Gale guilty of the manslaughter of his former friend in April 2014.

Stewart Robertson, 50, of St Aubyns Road, Portslade, who was with Gale when they disposed of Mr Manning’s body, was found guilty of preventing the lawful burial of a corpse.

Gale previously pleaded guilty in court to preventing lawful burial.

He went missing on 19 April and failed to attend several appointments. Gale told Mark's family that he had dropped Mark off at Worthing railway station that day but there was no sign of him on CCTV at the station or on any trains and no sightings of him. 

Gale told Lewes Crown Court during the trial that Mr Manning had turned up at his garage in Western Road, Lancing, on the afternoon of April 19 and asked for the £17,000 he was owed from the sale of two vehicles.

The jury was told by Gale Mr Manning came at him with an axe, so he picked up a metre-long industrial wrench and hit him with it two or three times.

Mr Manning collapsed and died on the floor.

Gale asked Robertson who was working next door to help dispose of his body.

They dumped Mr Manning's body at in dense undergrowth in Hampshire Hill near Slaugham the following morning.

His remains were not discovered until Robertson told police in May 2016 that he knew where they were. He took officers to location.

Robertson denied being at the scene of the killing and helping to dispose of the body. He said he was later told where Mr Manning's body was.

The sentencing of both defendants is to take place next week.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Ashcroft, who led the investigation for the Sussex Police Major Crime Team, said in a statement: "This has been a long and complex investigation and my thoughts and condolences remain with Mark’s family and friends who have waited a long time for answers and for closure.

“Colin Gale killed Mark in a violent attack and then together with Stewart Robertson dumped his body in a secluded spot. He then concocted a story about dropping Mark off at Worthing railway station and continued to lie to Mark’s family and the police.

“He has put Mark’s family through a living nightmare. They clung to the hope that Mark would one day walk back into their lives. However Colin Gale knew that would never happen. He did not tell anyone what he did with Mark’s remains despite having many opportunities to do so. He not only killed Mark but destroyed his family’s lives as a result."

Mr Manning’s son Kane, 18, said: “My father was a hero, he saved many people's lives around the world with his mine clearance work. I had an amazing bond with my father and I find it hard knowing my dad will never be around to see me grow up. I am so glad that justice has prevailed in the end.”