A GANG of 'misfits and inadequates’ were responsible for the killing and attemped cover up of a kind and happy carer.

Failed relationships, accusations, recriminations, grooming and torture dominated the lives of those who ultimately killed 44-year-old Michael Beckwith.

Rebecca Ryan and Scott Swift had dated for a while and known each other for longer.

Swift was also friends with Triston and Enderlein Biddlecombe.

Swift was besotted with Ryan.

However, early in 2016 she began working at Connelly House care home in Weeley.

Here she met Mr Beckwith. He was a man more than twice her age who was in a relationship with a woman called Sue.

Despite already having partners, Ryan and Mr Beckwith 
became close and started dating.

Whether this happened before or after they split with their other partners is uncertain and it is this uncertainty which festered in the minds of the killers.

Swift claims Ryan cheated on him after he spotted her kissing Mr Beckwith in a car.

Ryan claims Mr Beckwith was cheating on her and still seeing Sue.
Through spring to summer there were numerous rows.

Swift sent a threat to Mr Beckwith via Facebook and gave chase in his car on another occasion.

Mr Beckwith proposed to Ryan and told her she would not be the other woman.

But Ryan dumped Mr Beckwith.

However, by July last year, Ryan was still in almost daily contact with Swift and Mr Beckwith.

Mr Beckwith was in regular contact with Ryan and Sue Prior.

Swift had introduced Joseph Smith, a scrawny teenager, to his friends, the Biddlecombes, who had their own problems.

On July 29, Smith went to the home of the Biddlecombes.

He was tied up with a bag put over his head, threatened with weapons, waterboarded and goaded with being burnt alive while lighter fuel was held up to his nose.

Swift said it was a prank but Tyrone Smith QC, defending Smith, described it as torture.

Amjad Malik QC, prosecuting, also said it was grooming to make Smith so scared he would do anything Swift said.

By July 31 a ranting Ryan confirmed to a workmate they were no longer together because he was a “liar” carrying on with another woman behind her back.

That night Ryan directed Mr Beckwith to the remote Barrack Lane in Harwich where two masked men armed with metal bars beat him so badly he was hospitalised.

Two days later he died from his injuries.

The "black widow" and her jealous ex were found guilty of murdering her former boyfriend.

Rebecca Ryan and Scott Swift planned the attack on carer Michael Beckwith, 44, with the then 17-year-old Joseph Smith taken along to assist in the brutal violence which followed.

Mr Beckwith was battered to death by Swift and Smith with metal bars after being lured to the scene by the vengeful Ryan.

The 22-year-old femme fatale believed Mr Beckwith had been unfaithful so dumped him, but it was not enough, so she and Swift made their decision to take the ultimate revenge.

Swift, 27 who was obsessed with Ryan, with war games and his fantasy life in the marines hated Mr Beckwith, the man he blamed for splitting him and Ryan up, a man he had previously threatened.

He in turn recruited then 17-year-old Joseph Smith, a boy he had befriended and then tortured to be his sidekick, a boy not fully aware of what was going to happen.

On July 31 the two lay in wait while Ryan directed the unwitting Mr Beckwith to his death off Barrack Lane, Harwich.

She said she wanted to chat and he hoped to get her back so went willingly.

But when he arrived he was cracked on the head 17 times with multiple weapons.

Amazingly he survived and fought for his life until August 2 when he succumbed to his injuries and died.

Ryan, of Hilltop Rise, Weeley and Swift, of Station Road, Dovercourt were convicted of murder.

Smith, now 18, of Canning Street, Harwich, was cleared of murder. He had already admitted manslaughter.

Amjad Malik QC, prosecuting during the seven week trial, told the jury: "Michael Beckwith was desperate to get back with Ryan, she was not having it, it was revenge she was going to have."

Speaking about Swift he said: "He was obsessed, He wanted her to be his woman.

"He had a sidekick, a 17-year-old.

"Joe Smith was going to follow him.

"Ryan brought the victim to these two.

"They jumped, they launched their attack uninterrupted.

"They struck him repeatedly, rapidly, a frenzy."

Blood splattered on the clothes of Swift and Smith before the cover up began with the help of young married couple, the Biddlecombes.

Triston Biddlecombe, 24, and wife Enderlein Biddlecombe, 20, both of East Street, Harwich, were convicted of assisting offenders by washing clothes belonging to the attackers.

They were cleared of assisting offenders by burning clothes.

They were convicted of perverting the course of justice by providing Swift with a false alibi.

Sentencing has been delayed until April 21 while reports are prepared.

All five were remanded in custody by Judge Charles Gratwicke.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Al Pitcher, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said after the hearing: "This has been a lengthy and complicated investigation and I am pleased with today’s verdicts. 

"Ryan had callously planned with her ex-boyfriend Scott Swift to cause Michael serious harm, deliberately trapping him in a secluded area where Swift and Joseph Smith laid in wait, hiding in the undergrowth.

"Michael pleaded with them that he did not want any trouble. But they shrugged and then repeatedly beat him about the head, torso and legs with metal bars. 

"Ryan then left enough time for Swift and Smith to escape before calling the police and claimed it was a random attack.

"A few minutes later, she and Swift had a pre-arranged phone conversation to give him his opportunity to return to the scene in an effort to pretend he was a concerned friend.

"He even asked Michael ‘What have they done to you?’. 

"Later, Swift attempted to suggest that the blood on his clothing was a result of this second visit.

"After their arrest, incriminating coded text messages were discovered on their mobile phones, which demonstrated a significant degree of pre-meditation.

"Smith had maintained that he did not intend to cause Michael serious harm although accepted that he was involved in the attack.

"The Biddlecombes attempted to interfere with justice by telling the police that Swift was at home with them during the attack and that he only left their home once he had spoken to Ryan. 

"They also tried to destroy evidence by washing clothing belonging to the attackers.

"I would like to thank Michael’s family for working with us during this very difficult time and pay tribute to them for their dignity and restraint. 

"My thoughts are very much with them and I hope that today’s verdicts are of some comfort to them.

"I would also like to pay tribute to all of the witnesses that had the courage to attend court to give evidence in this case.”

Michael’s family said: "Words cannot express the shock and pain we as a family have suffered since Michael’s early passing. 

"His loss is beyond words, especially the events that led to his death. 

"Michael had a big heart, as big as the world.

"He would have given the shirt off his back to help anyone if asked. 

"He was compassionate, caring and loving. He would judge no-one and was considerate to all.

"He was a gentle giant. 

"His death has left a gaping hole in our family but also with those who knew Michael and those he cared for within his role as a healthcare assistant.

"Michael was not just a carer at work, he also was the main carer for his mother Iris, who had already suffered the early loss of her husband and daughter and who now had to go through the loss of her devoted son, on whom she relied upon a great deal. 

"We as a family believe that the death of Michael had affected Iris so much that before the trial she too passed away after suffering a heart attack. 

"The only way we as a family are dealing with this grief is that Iris and Michael are reunited with Dave, Michael’s father, and Debbie, his sister, in their passing.”