HE was the local handyman murdered two days before his birthday.

Farnworth was left shaken after Marc Jepson was found dead, strangled on his living room floor at his home in Kildaire Street on March 4 this year.

A former girlfriend described him as "the most loving, generous and thoughtful man" she had ever known.

But Mr Jepson, who took insulin for his diabetes, underwent a "sustained and vicious" attack at the hands of former friend Carl Hodgkiss.

Hodgkiss was cousin to Mr Jepson's estranged wife Sandra Jepson and a nephew of Sandra's mum Irene Hodgkiss, who was today cleared of conspiring to commit murder but guilty of conspiring to commit actual bodily harm.

Irene Hodgkiss said her nephew had been "best friends" with her son-in-law Mr Jepson.

But a bitter family dispute over the break-up of Mr Jepson and his wife's marriage in 2011 spilt over as Hodgkiss went round to the Kildaire Street house to tell his old pal to "leave town".

Irene Hodgkiss said in court that two weeks before Mr Jepson's death, she had told her nephew to visit him and "give him a couple slaps".

But the attack left Mr Jepson dead and Hodgkiss fleeing to his aunt's home.

It would be another 15 hours before Mr Jepson was found by a neighbour.

Post-mortem results found that the 40-year-old had been strangled, beaten and stabbed a number of times in the leg and lower abdomen.

Detectives moved swiftly — aided by CCTV footage capturing Hodgkiss leaving Mr Jepson's home — and arrested both Hodgkiss and his aunt within days.

Hodgkiss continued to deny even going to Mr Jepson's house on that night — until just days before his trial was due to start.

He then admitted the killing — but insisted it was in self-defence.

Francine Hawkins, a former girlfriend of Mr Jepson, said: "I used to go out with Marc about nine years ago and we remained really good friends ever since and kept in touch on Facebook or by phone.

"He was the most loving, generous and thoughtful man and friend I have ever had the privilege of knowing and I take great pride in saying that he was one of my most dearest friends.

"I was totally heartbroken when his daughter sent me a message me to tell me he'd passed away and the shock that it was murder was even more unbearable to handle.

"He was a great guy who would do anything for anyone, was loved by all who knew him.

"I know I will never be able to fully accept he's gone and will miss him dearly and will keep him in my heart always.

"This has been an emotional rollercoaster and I just cannot believe that someone would rob him of the many years he would have had left .

"He deserves justice for the callous and cowardly act his killer showed him.

"On his birthday, instead of wishing him warm wishes we were patiently awaiting verdicts on the suspects they had in custody."

The senior investigator on the case, Duncan Thorpe, said: "Whatever the reason for Carl going round to Marc's home shortly after 11pm that night, it is clear that he carried out a sustained and vicious attack on him.

"Carl then ran away from the scene leaving Marc dead in his own home. This was a tragic incident and has affected the local community deeply."