HARRY Scott has been warned he faces jail after he was found guilty of the manslaughter of former Grimsby man Richard Woods.
Scott stood with his head down and wept in the dock as the jury foreman delivered the verdict at the end of a three-week trial.
The jury of five women and seven men took just under four hours to reach their verdict at Lincoln Crown Court yesterday.
Scott, 23, of Ramsgate, Louth, had denied the manslaughter of 32-year-old Mr Woods on January 12 last year.
Judge Stuart Rafferty QC adjourned sentence to allow for the preparation of probation and psychiatric reports on Scott.
The Judge granted bail to Scott telling him: "Loss of liberty I think is inevitable."
He added: "I don't know what the sentence on you will be. The court requires as much assistance as it can to pass the proper sentence.
"As a matter of common sense there is no sentence that the court can pass that can bring Richard Woods back to life or can for a moment begin to assuage the grief the family feels."
Nicholas Woods, Richard's brother, speaking on behalf of the family, said: "We are pleased with the verdict of the jury.
"This has been a very difficult experience for us all but we would like to say a big thank you to Lincolnshire Police for their help and support throughout the investigation and trial."
During the trial Adrienne Lucking QC, prosecuting, told the jury that Scott unlawfully imprisoned Richard Woods in the loft of Mr Woods' home in Spring Terrace, Louth, by raising the connecting ladder and securing it so that it could not be lowered.
Richard Woods, described as a shy and vulnerable man, attempted to climb between two of the ladder steps and became trapped. Scott then repeatedly struck him with a length of wood rather than attempt to free him and he subsequently died as a result of asphyxiation.
Mrs Lucking said "Richard Woods was in his loft. He had a computer up there.
"The loft is accessed by means of a wooden ladder. The defendant trapped him in that loft. Using the loft ladder he pulled it up by the pulley system and secured it to the stair post. There was no way for Richard Woods to release himself.
"This was no schoolboy prank. It was bullying by the defendant at the end of a course of bullying.
"Richard Woods tried to escape by climbing down between the steps of the ladder and he was left hanging in a position which ultimately proved to be fatal.
"The defendant didn't help him whilst he was hanging there in the process of asphyxiation. What he did was pick up a piece of wood and strike Richard Woods to the side of his body repeatedly."
"If you carry out an unlawful act and someone dies as a result you are responsible for their death in law. That is manslaughter. That is what happened in this case."
The men had spent much of the evening drinking together in pubs and a night club in Louth before Richard Woods returned alone to his terraced home. Scott turned up in the early hours looking for a bed for the night and the incident that led to Richard's death followed soon afterwards.
Scott did not give evidence from the witness box but the jury heard interviews in which he claimed to have simply found the body.
He denied trapping Richard Woods in the loft and tying up the ladder to prevent his escape and said he cut down a rope securing the ladder when he found his body and raised the alarm.
Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Martin Holvey, said: "Scott had the opportunity to help him but he failed to do so until it was too late.
"Indeed, not only did he leave Richard in extreme danger but the prosecution case was that he inflicted one final act of abuse by beating him repeatedly in those last few moments.
"Richard's family have had to face the anguish of losing him in such dreadful circumstances as well as a lengthy court trial and I hope the verdict will help as they come to terms with their loss."
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