A fourth man has been found guilty of aggravated burglary in connection with an incident where a man was tied up at gunpoint in his own home before one of the attackers died in a struggle.

Christopher Salvador, 31, of Hemming Way, Watford was convicted on Wednesday and is the fourth man from the town to be found guilty of the crime.

On December 4, four men, posing as armed police officers, stormed a laundrette in Southend Road, Grays, Essex, armed with an imitation firearm and axes.

Joseph Pearl, Harrison Fryer, Jerome Johnson, and Paul Robertson, ran into the living area of the property and threatened four people, including two children.

One of the victim’s had his hands tied together while a gun was held to his head before the men began ransacking the home looking for cash.

But they were spooked by flashing lights outside, believing police had arrived and three of them fled the home to a waiting van.

But Robertson, 39, remained, armed with an axe and the imitation firearm. The man who had been tied up managed to free himself before he became involved in a tussle with Robertson.

Robertson died at the scene from multiple injuries.

Police were able to track the get-away van from Milton Keynes to Southend Road following enquiries and after further work, Johnson and Fryer were arrested on January 31 while Salvador, who helped plan the burglary in advance, was caught on March 8.

Salvador was found not guilty of possessing an imitation firearm.

Joseph Pearl, 28, of Charter Place, Watford, admitted aggravated burglary and possessing an imitation firearm, at Basildon Crown Court on June 6.

Harrison Fryer, 24, and Jerome Johnson, 36, both of Charter Place, Watford, pleaded guilty to the same offences on May 30.

The four men are due to be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court next month.

Michael Williams, 35, of Old Farm Park, Milton Keynes, stood trial on charges of aggravated burglary and possessing an imitation firearm. He was found not guilty of both charges on Wednesday.

No charges were brought against the victim.