LOW-PITCHED sobs broke the tense silence of the courtroom as the jury filed in for one last time to deliver its verdict.

Wearing a brown striped shirt and beige tie, Nigel Goolding seemed composed as he watched the keepers of his fate take their positions.

The same could not be said for Joshua Spruce, who, dressed in a white shirt and blue tie, started straight ahead taking deep breaths in an effort to contain his anxiety.

Gut-wrenching howls erupted from the public gallery as the guilty murder verdicts were read out, with the Spruces and Gooldings clinging to each other for support.

The word ‘guilty’ seemed to physically knock the wind out of Spruce, who immediately broke down and turned around to look at his family.

Goolding appeared to be more resigned, only beginning to weap as Judge Roderick Evans warned of the ‘inevitable’ life term both face.

He delayed sentencing until today, Friday, so it could take place in ‘a less fraught’ environment.

Prosecutor Andrew Thomas said the life-sentence could carry a 15-year starting point as the murder was aggravated by its lengthy build-up and the victim’s vulnerable age.

In the case of Goolding, Mr Thomas said the fact he went back to the scene will also be considered an aggravating feature.

He did, however, concede that the attack was not planned or premeditated and that there was little evidence of an intention to kill.

Judge Evans said: “The result is pre-determined by law and has to be a life sentence.

“But I have to consider the minimum term which they must serve before they can be considered for release.”

We will bring you news of the sentence live from Chester Crown Court as it happens.