A Shropshire man who shot a drug dealer has been warned he faces a “substantial” jail sentence after being found guilty by a jury of attempted murder.

Lee Ashley pulled out a sawn-off shotgun before shooting Wayne Jones in the arm during a row over an illegal prescription drugs deal in Trench, Telford, on January 20.

A jury at Stafford Crown Court yesterday found the 39-year-old, of Cordingley Way, Donnington, guilty of attempted murder following a four-day trial.

They returned the unanimous verdict after more than five hours deliberations. Co-accused Faye Myddleton, 28, of Kerton Terrace, Hadley, was acquitted of attempted murder and wounding with intent, as well as an alternative charge of unlawful wounding.

Both Ashley and Miss Myddleton had denied the charges.

During the trial the jury was told the pair visited the victim at his home in St James Close, Trench shortly after he had sold Miss Myddleton a bag of prescription diazapan drugs for £70 in a churchyard in Donnington.

Giving evidence, Miss Myddleton claimed there was not as many drugs as she had expected in the bag and visited Mr Jones. Mr Jones said a scuffle broke out between himself and Miss Myddleton. Mr Jones said he saw Ashley pull the loaded shotgun from under his jacket after Miss Myddleton was pushed to the floor.

Ashley, a heroin addict at the time of the shooting, admitted he had deliberately fired the gun but did not intend to kill or injure Mr Jones, just to “scare him”.

Miss Myddleton said she did not know Ashley was armed but had simply gone to get £20 of her money back which she had paid for the drugs.

Mr Jones was taken to hospital with a wound to his arm and had been left with disabilities and needing further medical treatment, the court heard.

Ashley and Miss Myddleton fled the scene.

The gun was buried by them but despite police searches has never been recovered, the jury was told.

Mr Justice Butterfield told the court Ashley would be facing a “substantial custodial sentence”.