A DRUG dealer and his enforcer have been found guilty of the murders of a mum and her young son over her partner’s debts.

Andrew Milne and Jacob Barnard torched a property in Croxden Way, Eastbourne, with a petrol can and cigarette lighter.

Gina Ingles, 34, and her son Milo Ingles-Bailey, aged just four, were killed inside the house fire, while Ms Ingles’ partner Toby Jarrett, 29, escaped via a window with burns all over his body.

Brighton Crown Court heard how drugs kingpin Jacob Barnard wanted to send a message to the drugs world over unpaid debts.

So, along with Andrew Milne, he went to Croxden Way and lit the flames in the early hours of July 10, 2018.

Now after a six-week trial, a jury has found both men guilty of the murder of Ms Ingles and Milo, and the attempted murder of Mr Jarrett.

Brighton Magistrates Court

Brighton Magistrates Court

Both men face life in prison, and the judge Mrs Justice Philippa Whipple will pass sentence on Friday.

As the verdict was read out, Barnard claimed he was being "framed", but was told to be quiet by the judge.

A third man, John Tabakis, 30, was found guilty of assisting an offender and will be sentenced separately. 

Kate Lumsdon QC, prosecuting, told the court Mr Jarrett owed his dealer John Sanders £400, who in turn owed £1,800 to “top man” Barnard who ran the drugs operation from Portugal.

Ms Lumsdon said: “It was a particular drug debt and the general message sent out to the wider drug community – don’t mess with this drug line.”

The prosecution revealed how kingpin Barnard, 31, was found in possession of drugs and weapons where he lived in Portugal and was convicted.

Andrew Milne and Jacob Barnard have been found guilty of the murders of Gina Ingles and Milo Ingles-Bailey and the attempted murder of Toby Jarrett at a house fire at Croxden Way, Eastbourne in July 2018

Andrew Milne and Jacob Barnard have been found guilty of the murders of Gina Ingles and Milo Ingles-Bailey and the attempted murder of Toby Jarrett at a house fire at Croxden Way, Eastbourne in July 2018

Portuguese police found a “debtors list” which showed how Sanders owed him cash.

Meanwhile, Milne, 42, acted as an “enforcer” for Barnard.

It was claimed that Milne offered former neighbour Wayne Dedman work alongside him as a drug debt collector.

Ms Lumsdon said he was offered work to go into a flat in Eastbourne, force their way in, restrain anyone present and “brand” them, i.e cut the debtor with a knife.

Ms Lumsdon said: “The reason for doing this job was that ‘it was just some ‘junkie’ in Eastbourne who owed his mate in Portugal money’.”

Later Mr Dedman had borrowed a hammer off Milne, who requested it back as it was his “special hammer”, and Mr Dedman said that he would need to wipe his DNA off the weapon as he did not want to be linked to violent crime.

Andrew Milne and Jacob Barnard have been found guilty of the murders of Gina Ingles and Milo Ingles-Bailey and the attempted murder of Toby Jarrett at a house fire at Croxden Way, Eastbourne in July 2018

Andrew Milne and Jacob Barnard have been found guilty of the murders of Gina Ingles and Milo Ingles-Bailey and the attempted murder of Toby Jarrett at a house fire at Croxden Way, Eastbourne in July 2018

A police raid at Milne’s home found a horde of weapons in a shed he shared with girlfriend which included knives, an extendable baton, a Taser, gloves and a balaclava.

Ms Ingles and Milo died from smoke inhalation as the flames ripped through their home in the early hours of July 10, 2018.

Andrew Milne and Jacob Barnard have been found guilty of the murders of Gina Ingles and Milo Ingles-Bailey and the attempted murder of Toby Jarrett at a house fire at Croxden Way, Eastbourne in July 2018

Andrew Milne and Jacob Barnard have been found guilty of the murders of Gina Ingles and Milo Ingles-Bailey and the attempted murder of Toby Jarrett at a house fire at Croxden Way, Eastbourne in July 2018

Firefighters found a petrol can and cigarette lighter outside the front entrance, with Milne’s DNA on the petrol can and Barnard’s DNA on the lighter.

The prosecution said a Mercedes linked to Barnard was driven to Eastbourne in the early hours of the morning, and driven away from the town shortly after the fire back toward Hastings.

Andrew Milne and Jacob Barnard have been found guilty of the murders of Gina Ingles and Milo Ingles-Bailey and the attempted murder of Toby Jarrett at a house fire at Croxden Way, Eastbourne in July 2018

Andrew Milne and Jacob Barnard have been found guilty of the murders of Gina Ingles and Milo Ingles-Bailey and the attempted murder of Toby Jarrett at a house fire at Croxden Way, Eastbourne in July 2018

Tabakis then later drove the vehicle to Portugal via the ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe in a bid to get rid of it.

Barnard, 32 unemployed, previously of Spring Steps, Winchelsea, was found guilty of two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

The Argus: Jacob Barnard was found guilty of murder in EastbourneJacob Barnard was found guilty of murder in Eastbourne

Milne, 42, a furniture remover of Wilmington Road, Hastings, was found guilty of two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon.

The Argus: Andrew Milne was also found guilty of murder in EastbourneAndrew Milne was also found guilty of murder in Eastbourne

Senior Investigating Officer, Gordon Denslow, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the events which tragically cost Gina Ingles and her four-year-old son, Milo, their lives has been very long and very complex.

“At no point have Barnard or Milne accepted responsibility for their actions in the early hours of 10 July 2018, or expressed any remorse or regret.

“Instead, their unfounded denials in the face of compelling evidence have meant that Gina’s and Milo’s family have had to endure a long and painful wait to find out what really happened that night, and why. They have been forced to re-live the terrible loss of their loved ones once again during this trial.

“I am grateful to the court and in particular to the members of the jury who have reached what I have always believed to be the right, and only conclusion that could be drawn from the evidence presented to them over the last six weeks.

“This was a carefully planned, cowardly, but horrific attack carried out by Barnard and Milne in the middle of the night against a defenceless family. Tabakis then knowingly tried to help them get away with their crimes by driving the car they used during the attack to Portugal just hours afterwards.  

“Whilst there is sadly nothing that can ever be said or done to undo the events of that tragic night, I can only hope that this outcome provides some comfort to Gina’s and Milo’s family, who have acted with remarkable patience and dignity throughout this prolonged investigation.

“Lastly, it is right that I thank every single one of my colleagues involved in this challenging investigation for their professionalism, tenacity and commitment throughout. Thank you.”