A MAN has been jailed for life for murdering his ex-wife's lover and disposing of his body in a jealous rage.

And today the victim's teenage daughter pleaded with his killer to tell her what he had done with her father's body.

A jury found Shane Fitzpatrick, 36, of Lyndale Road, Hapton, guilty of killing Accrington businessman David Guilfoyle, 37, by a majority of 11-1.

As the verdict was read out, Fitzpatrick, who was told he would serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars, pumped his fist against his chest in a gesture to his children in the public gallery.

Judge, Mr Justice David Clarke, told him: "It was a carefully planned and professionally executed killing in which you took the greatest care to cover your tracks.

"But you have not been successful in your efforts to deceive this jury."

Mr Guilfoyle disappeared in May last year after watching Liverpool win the Champions League final with friends at the Grey Horse pub, Whalley Road, Accrington.

Speaking outside court, his daughter Samantha Feeley, 16, said she was "delighted" with the verdict.

She said: "I just feel relief that justice has been done.

"I hope that one day Shane will tell us what he did with my dad's body so he can finally be laid to rest.

"It has been very difficult. It is so important that we find his body."

Samantha's mother, Angela Feeley, added: "Sammy is living a life sentence as well as Shane.

"Time will help us get over what has happened but we just want him to tell us what he did with Dave's body."

The jury at Preston Crown Court found Fitzpatrick guilty after three days of deliberations and a three-week trial.

The court heard that Fitzpatrick carried out an attack at Mr Guilfoyle's home in Royds Avenue, Accrington, after he became angry that his ex-wife Debbie Fitzpatrick was dating Mr Guilfoyle.

He was described in court as "possessively jealous".

After the verdict, Det Chief Inspector Steve Brunskill said Fitzpatrick was an "extremely violent and dangerous individual" and "a danger to anyone who crosses him".

He added: "He killed David Guilfoyle in a violent attack on the doorstep of his own home. He was motivated by jealousy and planned his murder with meticulous detail.

"We believe he went to David's house dressed in dark clothing and wearing a balaclava, and under the cover of darkness, attacked him on his driveway, beating him to death in what must have been a ferocious assault.

"To this day we have been unable to find David's body and in view of his conviction I would urge Fitzpatrick to tell us where he is so we can recover his remains."

The only evidence linking Fitzpatrick to Mr Guilfoyle's home was a torch found on a path on the right side of the house, which, when examined by forensic experts was found to contain Fitzpatrick's DNA.

The torch was lying on top of a hose pipe, which the police believe was used by Fitzpatrick to clean up blood from the front of the house.

Mr Guilfoyle's blood was found around the front door of his property and traces were found on his driveway and down onto the pavement at the bottom of the drive.

The court heard Fitzpatrick met Debbie in 1988 and were married for nine years until they were divorced in 2004.

They had three children and the court heard he was often violent towards her and she had been hospitalised as a result of his attacks.

The court also heard damning evidence that Fitzpatrick's behaviour in the days after Mr Guilfoyle's disappearance had been "unusual."

Fitzpatrick was first spoken to by officers on June 3 last year and was arrested by the police on June 7.

Between those dates, the court heard Fitzpatrick changed the carpet in the kitchen and porch areas of his home.

He also threw away his home computer and was seen buying a roll of bin bags from a local shop.

Neighbours on his street in Hapton told investigators they had spotted Fitzpatrick and his son, Callum, 17, on the night of Mr Guilfoyle's disappearance "looking like commandos", dressed all in black with black "bob caps".

Fitzpatrick worked at Calder Print in Burnley as a guillotine operator and the court heard he had told a work colleague, who had noticed he looked tired the day after Mr Guilfoyle's disappearance, he had been for a long run.

After the court case Mr Guilfoyle's brother Jimmy said justice had been done.

He said: "If only he (Fitzpatrick) would tell us where the body is.

"He would help himself and put us out of a lot of misery."