Two men found guilty of Leicester jeweller's murder

Ramniklal Jogiya suffered a series of injuries to his head, shoulder, torso and hands

Two men have been convicted of murdering a jeweller who was kidnapped and tortured in a botched robbery.

Ramniklal Jogiya, 74, was bundled into a van near his shop in Leicester on 24 January while walking home before his body was found the next day.

Thomas Jervis, 24, and Charles Mcauley, 20, were found guilty of murder while Callan Reeve, 20, was convicted of manslaughter.

A jury at Birmingham Crown Court cleared Javon Roach of all charges.

• East Midlands Live: Burst water main fills city roads; Crews deal with more grass fires

Callan Reeve (left), Charles Mcauley (centre) and Thomas Jervis (right) will be sentenced on 10 September

The trial heard Mr Jogiya had been bundled into a van while walking home.

He was tortured and beaten for information before being dumped in a country lane near Stoughton.

Mr Jogiya's mobile phone was thrown away and his body was found by a retired couple driving past the scene.

James House QC, prosecuting, told the court the "sophisticated" operation must have been planned over weeks or even months.

Jurors heard Mr Jogiya suffered a series of injuries, including six broken ribs and 21 circular injuries to his torso and shoulder.

He was handled with such force one of his biceps were ripped away from the bone.

The men wanted to steal £200,000 of gold jewellery kept in the safe

Jervis was sent back to the shop to open the safe while wearing a burka disguise, but was defeated by a 12-hour time-lock.

The court heard the men needed information from Mr Jogiya to enter the shop, turn off the burglar alarm, access the safe and steal the £200,000 of gold jewellery it contained.

"To get that information, those involved all knew they would have to force it out of him if they were to have any chance of success," Mr House told the court.

"Mr Jogiya was therefore beaten until he divulged the information they required.

"Once they had that information he was dumped, probably still alive but seriously injured, miles from help, thus allowing the group to access the shop, with the keys they had taken from him."

Ramniklal Jogiya's body was found in Stoughton

During the trial Mcauley, who gave evidence in his own defence, claimed Mr Roach "got angry" and "started hitting Mr Jogiya" before "poking" him with a sharp metal tool.

However, jurors acquitted Mr Roach of all charges and Mcauley was convicted for his role in the killing.

Mcauley, 20, of Gooding Avenue, Braunstone, and Reeve, 20, of Aylmer Road, both Leicester, along with Jervis, 24, of Enderby Road, Whetstone, Leicestershire, had all admitted kidnap and robbery before trial, but denied murder and manslaughter.

Mr Roach, 30, of Norwich Road, Leicester, had denied all the charges.

Mr Jogiya's family released a statement after the verdicts where they said he was known as "Mota Bhai, or big brother, not just because he was the oldest but because he was big-hearted".

"Our father was a true gentleman. He was kind, friendly, loyal, unassuming, generous and well-respected in his community," it said.

"Dad was taken from us before his time, but for him, we will always remember the happier times and he will forever live on in our memories and in our hearts."

Det Ch Insp David Swift-Rollinson said: "Rarely have I investigated a crime so wicked and ruthless.

"The depravity, inhumanity and utter contempt they showed for their victim has caused untold anguish for his family and stunned the whole community."

Jervis, Mcauley and Reeve will be sentenced on 10 September.