Two men are behind bars for life after callously murdering their landlord and dumping his body in the boot of his own car.

Michael Gould and Charles Nicholls were each convicted of murder and sentenced to a minimum 16 years' imprisonment by a Chelmsford Crown Court judge.

Landlord Colin Francis, 46, of Cleveland Road, Basildon, was brutally beaten and strangled with a vacuum cleaner flex by the pair who plotted to make money after moving into his house.

For more on this story, see '£13,000 - the price of a man's life' in Newsround Their scam was only discovered when they stopped at the Barge pub in Battlesbridge for "Dutch courage" and to wait for darkness to bury Mr Francis's body.

Gould, 36, and Nicholls, 57, also of Cleveland Road, hatched the plot after they moved into Mr Francis's home in October 1998.

A month later the landlord was dead.

Police discovered Mr Francis's battered body bound in a blood-soaked pillowcase and sheet as they searched the car, which had been parked in the pub car park on November 6.

One of the pair had been spotted trying to dispose of the car keys upon arrest, alerting police to the possibility they had something to hide.

Police had been called to the pub by a customer who recognised Nicholls as a man who owed him money.

Timothy Wright made a citizens' arrest and called police in a bid to get back the cash Nicholls owed him from a stay at the bed and breakfast hotel he ran.

Judge Brian Watling described the case as a "grave and terrible" one.

He said: "Mr Francis was a small, defenceless and rather simple man whose home was virtually his sole asset and his pride and joy.

"You conceived a plan to kill him and steal the proceeds of the sale of his house."

He added that Nicholls had "masterminded the plot" by assuming the identity of Colin Francis after his death and that Gould was a violent man who represented a danger to the public.

Gould was convicted of the murder last month and jailed for life, but the jury failed to agree on a verdict for Nicholls so a re-trial was ordered.

The pair were kept apart in the dock at court as the judge told them he was recommending each serves at least 16 years.

(Right) Schemer - Charles Nicholls

(Left) Violent - Michael Gould

Praise for hero who made citizen's arrest

Hero Timothy White is to receive £500 from the High Sheriff of Essex for his part in helping to catch the killers.

Mr White, who runs a Battlesbridge guest house, made a citizens' arrest on Mr Nicholls after he spotted him in the Barge pub on November 6, 1998.

He recognised him as a man who had fled without paying his bill after a stay at the guest house a few months earlier.

Mr White also won the praise of the trial judge, Brian Watling QC.

He told the court Mr White had "acted with great courage" and that it was as a direct result of this that the "terrible" murder was exposed.

Judge Watling added: "Everyone has the power to make a citizens' arrest but very few exercise that right."

The police were also praised for their part in the successful prosecution.

Senior investigating officer, Det Supt Steve Reynolds and his team, were also highly commended by the judge.

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