Four thugs are facing life sentences after being convicted today of the murder of a man whose body was found on a Sheppey beach.

Mark Terry, 44, his son Matthew, 21, Christopher Bones, 21, and a 16-year-old boy will be sentenced next month with Jamie West, 19, who was convicted of manslaughter.

Mark Terry's wife Lisa, 32, who admitted perverting the course of justice during the trial, will also be sentenced.

The jury of six women and five men, one member having been discharged, returned unanimous verdicts on Mark and Matthew Terry, of Grantham Road, Manor Park, east London, and Bones, of Dorothy Gardens, Dagenham, Essex.

The 16-year-old, from Sheppey, and West, of Cliff View Gardens, Warden, were convicted by a 10-1 majority.

All five were unanimously found guilty of perverting the course of justice. They denied all the charges.

Only Mark Terry did not go into the witness box to give evidence about what happened the night Gary Pocock was beaten to death with at least one baseball bat.

The 34-year-old caretaker's half-naked body was found on the sand off Warden Bay Road, Warden, by a man with a metal detector on the morning of August 7 last year.

He was not identified until the following day when a description of a distinctive signet ring he had been wearing was reported by the media. His partner, Wendy Polley, recognised it and contacted police.

The prosecution alleged Mr Pocock, from Dagenham, east London, was the victim of a punishment attack after a girl claimed he had sexually assaulted her.

Mark and Matthew Terry, Bones and Mr Pocock were all staying at holiday chalets in Leysdown.

Judge Jeremy Carey adjourned sentence until Friday, May 9.

He told jurors the four convicted of murder would be jailed for life and he would decide the minimum term to be served.

"That is not a straight forward matter," he said. "The case has now come to an end. You will be interested to know the outcome."

The judge added: "You do not get counselling. Try to resume normality. You will never forget this case. Undoubtedly, it will be a most remarkable experience for you."

The jurors were told they would be exempt from further service for 10 years.