A burglar who lost his leg after he was shot during a raid on a smallholding near Bromyard is facing a long prison sentence.

Robert Richards was blasted in his right leg by the occupier Malcolm White after a gang targeted the property in Stocking Lane, Whitbourne, a jury heard.

They convicted Richards and accomplice Darren Randall of attempted aggravated burglary because cable ties were taken to the scene to bind Mr White and his partner Josephine Merrick while 50 cannabis plants were stolen.

But the pair were cleared of a second similar charge in relation to a firearm.

They claimed no guns were taken to the scene on October 5 last year.

The defendants were arrested by Police after seeking help at a Chinese restaurant in Leigh Sinton shortly after the raid.

The gang fled the scene empty-handed, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Judge Abbas Mithani, QC, remanded Richards, aged 29, of Scholars Green, Birmingham, and Randall, 25, of Yardley Fields Road, Birmingham, in custody.

He said they would be sentenced in the next two weeks and faced substantial prison sentences.

Retired watchmaker White, 62, and Merrick, 59, now of Brook Farm, Leigh Sinton, pleaded guilty before the burglary trial began to producing cannabis.

Mr White is in custody and Ms Merrick is on bail. Stephen Thomas, prosecuting, confirmed that no decision had been taken whether to charge White over the shooting.

Officers who went to the property called Stocking Gobbetts found cannabis worth £65,000 and an arsenal of weapons.

Items dumped by the gang were a crowbar, balaclavas, gloves, a chisel and bin liners. The prosecution alleged the gang also planned to steal drug equipment and profits.

White has also pleaded guilty to 11 firearms offences. Police never recovered the shotgun used to wound Richards, who had part of his right leg amputated.

His barrister Martin Butterworth said he was still receiving treatment and his main concern was how he would cope with his disability in prison.

Randall, who has also pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition, has two previous burglaries on his record.

The raid began when the front window was smashed with a sledgehammer. White allegedly grabbed a shotgun and went outside to confront the gang.

Merrick told the jury she heard three shots. The prosecution claimed a gun battle raged when fire was returned.

Merrick gave evidence that White confessed he had shot a burglar.

The defendants were convicted after the jury heard that fragments of glass taken from their clothing matched the broken window.

Tom Walkling, for Randall, claimed the cable ties were to secure bags of cannabis plants.