A MECHANIC murdered a haulier and stabbed two others a day after he was bailed for an earlier assault in a long-running feud.

Gavin Hogg, 34, knifed David Burrows, 36, to death at a haulage yard next to his Ravensthorpe workshop after a bitter row over litter and land rights.

He also stabbed Mr Burrows's father, Darrell, 62, and uncle, Clive Hoyland, 52, as they rushed to his aid at the family firm.

Yesterday a Leeds Crown Court jury found him guilty of murder and two counts of wounding. He will be sentenced on Friday.

The stabbing, in September last year, followed years of territorial disputes, threats and violence against Hogg's neighbours at the Low Mill Industrial Estate.

It came just a day after Hogg, of Wellhouse Lane, Mirfield, was convicted of common assault and criminal damage after an attack against Darrell Burrows, director of family firm M&B Haulage and Waste Paper.

Despite a history of threats and violence against the haulier and a conviction for assault, Dewsbury magistrates bailed Hogg to await sentence.

Yesterday the crown court jury returned unanimous verdicts, rejecting two alternative counts of attempted murder against Clive Hoyland and Darrell Burrows.

Det Supt Phil Sedgwick, who led the investigation, slammed Hogg for his "vindictive attitude" towards the Burrows and Hoyland families.

David Burrows's family were too upset to comment, but released a statement welcoming the verdict.

It said: "We're relieved that Hogg has been convicted of the murder of David and justice has been served.

"As a family we have endured an extremely difficult time in the period before this was brought before the court and are convinced the jury arrived at the right result."

The statement said the family hoped the judge would pass a long sentence that reflected their continuing suffering and anxiety.

But it added: "No sentence the judge may pass will ever replace the life of our dear departed father, partner, son, brother and nephew, nor will it ever fit the crime this man has committed."

All the victims worked at family firm M&B, next door to Hogg's car repair business, GL Motors.

The feud between the companies began in 2001. By 2004 it had escalated so badly that Darrell Burrows was forced to repeatedly call the police.

Prosecutor James Goss QC had told the court: "Unhappily, disputes developed over rights over land and a succession of incidents occurred where the defendant was abusive and aggressive.

"The incident was the culmination of a long-running dispute and ill-feeling between the defendant and those members of the Burrows and Hoyland families who owned and ran M&B Haulage."

Mr Goss said that on the day of the murder Hogg lay in wait until he saw David Burrows's Mercedes. He then headed for the yard, armed with a kitchen knife, to confront him.

Hogg drove in at 40mph and smashed into the parked Mercedes, shunting it and another vehicle into a wall.

Hogg got out and ran towards David Burrows, who was in the parking area, and delivered two fatal stab wounds to his lower back.

His father and uncle rushed to help and were lucky to survive after Mr Burrows was stabbed in the chest and Mr Hoyland in the stomach, said Mr Goss.

As Hogg ran away he dropped the knife and shouted to workers in the yard: "I told you I'd do it."

He later drove to a police station, confessed to crashing his car and gave his details. He was arrested and questioned over the stabbings.

Hogg said the knife may have gone in by accident, but he had no memory of using it deliberately or stabbing the other two men.

The court was told that Hogg was a loner with a history of psychological problems, including depression and a personality disorder.

Det Supt Sedgwick said later: "Hogg denied all offences and forced the other victims and witnesses of this terrible crime to give evidence.

"His implausible version of events was rejected, quite rightly, by the jury. He could have spared them this but chose not to. This is typical of his vindictive attitude towards the Burrows and Hoyland families.

"Hogg went there armed with a knife with the full intention of doing harm to whoever got in his way.

"He is a dangerous man and prison is the safest place for him."