The three killers have been described as despicable and twisted by a senior police officer.

Mark Hartley and Darren Miller were convicted of the murder of Martin Dines, while Heidi Kenney was convicted of manslaughter.

Det Supt Stephen Jennings of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said the catalyst of the three attacks were rumours Mr Dines had called Mark Hartley a fake paratrooper - an accusation that was actually completely true.

He said:“This was a savage attack on a man who was already incredibly vulnerable and the three individuals responsible for Mr Dines’ death took to the stand and blamed each other in a cowardly attempt to thwart justice.

“They spent that Saturday drinking cheap alcohol in Colchester town centre and took part in a twisted turn of events, the catalyst being Hartley’s anger against Mr Dines for calling him a ‘fake para’.

“Hartley - who had regularly and fraudulently boasted about having served in the Parachute Regiment – went with Kennedy and Miller and sought out Mr Dines with the chilling intention of using violence as retribution.

“We know Hartley had served in the Scots Guards for a short term, but had been dismissed after he was caught taking cocaine.

“Nothing can ever justify the taking of a life and these three despicable individuals followed a sinister path that evening which led to Mr Dines’ death."

“The jury were asked to consider the harrowing details of his last hours and his father - who attended court - also had to endure hearing the brutal attack his son was subjected to.