Drug dealer jailed for at least 27 years for gunning down intruder to his Wakefield village home
He was handed mandatory life sentence
A dealer who shot dead a man intent on raiding his home for drugs has been told he must serve at least 27 years behind bars.
Adrian Frost was found guilty of murdering 26-year-old Connor Batty following an eight-day trial at Leeds Crown Court.
Mr Batty was part of an armed gang looking to steal Frost’s cannabis farm at his home on Barnsley Road, Hemsworth, in September last year.
Frost, 61, opened fire when Mr Batty and others forced their way in, hitting him in the chest with a round from an illegal 12-bore sawn-off shotgun from a short distance away. He died shortly afterwards.
West Yorkshire Police today released new images of Frost shortly after the killing, still holding with the deadly gun, a bandolier of cartridges slung around his neck and even a cartridge between his teeth.
The judge, the Recorder of Leeds Guy Kearl KC handed Frost a mandatory life sentence this morning, telling him he must serve a minimum of 27 years in custody, before he can be considered for parole.
He told Frost he had “assembled an arsenal of weapons” to protect his homegrown cannabis farm, and that he was “prepared to use” them.
He said: “You could have fired a warning shot in order to scare them away.
“Instead you lay in wait on the stairs with your shotgun pointing through the bannister spindles. You had taken the safety catch off.
“He had no chance. He did not know you were there.
“You attempted to lie your way out of this.”
During his trial, Frost claimed self defence but the jury unanimously convicted him having deliberated for less than a day.
Frost had previously entered guilty pleas to possession of a prohibited firearm and production of Class B drugs, but denied murder.
On the night of September 11 last year, Mr Batty was with others who forced entry into Frost’s home and take his cannabis farm which covered three of the four bedrooms in the property.
They burst into the property after shouting at Frost that he “knew what they were there for”.
Frost loaded up the unlicensed shotgun and was stood on the stairs when the gang entered. He shot Mr Batty through the chest from a distance of less than 1.5 metres.
Mr Batty had an imitation Glock pistol in his hand at the time.
As he lay dying, Frost jokingly asked him if he needed an aspirin. He also took photos of the body.
Frost later told police that he had slipped and accidentally fired the weapon, which he later admitted was a lie.
Multiple weapons were later recovered from Frost’s home, including machetes, knives, baseball bats, CS gas canisters and a baton. More than 500 shotgun cartridges were found.
The unlicensed shotgun was kept near his bed. One sword was even fixed to the headboard of his bed.
Giving evidence during the trial, Frost said he should be permitted to defend his own home, but denied the weapons were to help guard his cannabis crop, claiming he had always had an interest.
He said he was panicking and feared for his own safety, especially after spotting Mr Batty with the pistol in his hand.
Meanwhile, Mr Batty’s accomplices were sentenced in May for their part in the bungled raid.
Lewis Bromley, 26, of Rose Avenue, Darfield, Barnsley, and Dylan Kelly, 24, of Locksley Gardens, Birdwell, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of an imitation firearm while committing burglary, and possession of an offensive weapon in relation to a pickaxe handle.
Bromley was sentenced to a total of four years and six months in prison and Kelly to four years and four months.
Connor Turner, 29, of Schofield Road, Darfield, Barnsley, pleaded guilty conspiracy to commit burglary and possession of an offensive weapon in relation to a pickaxe handle.
He was found not guilty of possession of an imitation firearm while committing burglary. He was sentenced to a total of three years imprisonment.