THE man who killed his ex-wife's new husband is facing at least 30 years in jail.

Allan Kimber, 41, was today convicted of murdering Gary Morgan, 37, at Danesbrook Farm, Stanton St John, a year ago.

Mr Justice David Calvert-Smith sentenced Kimber to life, with a minimum term behind bars of 30 years.

He condemned Kimber for his "arrogance and lack of human sympathy".

There were gasps and cries from the public gallery, where Mr Morgan's widow Helen and his family were sitting as the guilty verdict was read out.

The jury at Oxford Crown Court spent eight hours deliberating before convicting Kimber, of Stert Street, Abingdon.

Det Chief Insp Karen Trego said: "The jury were unanimous in finding Allan Kimber guilty of the murder of Gary Morgan.

"It has been over a year since Gary Morgan was murdered. I am pleased that justice has been done today and my thoughts are with Gary's family.

"Gary was an innocent man who had not done anything to provoke this attack.

"My investigation team were faced with piecing together who could have committed such a horrendous crime.

"Allan Kimber committed a premeditated and cold-blooded murder. He bought a series of guns and reactivated them so they would fire. He made his own bullets and lay in wait for Gary Morgan.

"Gary's family stand here with me today and add their thanks to all the officers and police staff who contributed to this investigation for their hard work and commitment."

Kimber was married to Helen Morgan and the couple lived in Bicester. Their marriage lasted a year before they split.

Mr Morgan worked with Kimber and Helen at Stagecoach and moved in with her as a lodger. A romance began and the couple then married, moving to Danesbrook Farm.

The jury has been told how Kimber caused problems for them at work.

Detectives found a Walther PPK pistol at Kimber's home after the killing. It had been bought over the Internet as a deactivated weapon, but Kimber re-activated and made his own ammunition.

He then attacked and shot Mr Morgan as the victim was driving to work on October 17 last year.

Mr Morgan's body was found in his car and initially it was thought he had died and crashed the car.

The bullet wound was only found during the post-mortem examination on his body.

In a statement the Crown Prosecution Service welcomed the verdict.

A spokesman said: "The outcome of this trial will not bring Gary Morgan back but will hopefully help his wife and family to start the painful task of rebuilding their lives.

"The murder of Gary Morgan was unprovoked, cold-blooded and carefully planned. The prosecution team was able to link Allan Kimber to the murder by the discovery of a gun found in his flat which linked to the bullets found in Gary Morgan's neck.

"CCTV footage showed Allan Kimber leaving his flat at about 2.10am on the morning of the murder, which was established to have taken place between 3.30am and 4am. A balaclava found in his jacket also contained gun shot residue of a similar type to that found in the cartridges of his gun.

"When the police carried out a search of his flat they found a reactivated gun containing bullets that matched the bullet recovered from Gary Morgan.

"The CPS would like to express its thanks to all of the prosecution team and witnesses in this tragic case, without whom today's verdict would not have been possible."

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