Shotgun killer told: 'You'll die in prison'

Wright was out on licence when he killed Mr Corby, 42, with a blast to the neck in Eccleshill, Bradford, almost exactly a year ago.

Disguised with a mask, Wright burst into the home Mr Corby shared with Craig Freear, 31, in Ashbourne Road, and opened fire repeatedly.

He shot Mr Corby in the neck at close range and hit Mr Freear, who was hiding in the bathroom, with a shot fired through the door which struck him in the chest.

Mr Corby called out: “Craig, where are you? I’m dying here.”

Mr Freear escaped by climbing out of the bathroom window and hiding under a neighbour’s car.

Wright, known as Les, drove off in Mr Freear’s hatchback and went on the run for 30 days.

Mr Freear, a civil servant, believed he was dying and told a neighbour: “It’s Les who’s done it, it’s Les.”

He recognised the killer because he could see his eyes through the mask.

Wright was in dispute with the couple after he turned Mr Freear’s disabled mother against him.

Mr Freear used to look after her finances but Wright, her upstairs neighbour, moved her to a secret location and began the process of getting her benefits paid into his account.

Wright had served life for murdering Trevor Hale in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and received a life sentence in 1973.

His minimum term was set at 13 years but he served double that after absconding four times during his sentence – and was once found sunbathing in a back garden in Halifax after fleeing during a supervised visit to his sister in Saltaire in 1991.

Wright was convicted unanimously of murder, attempted murder and two firearms offences.

Outside court, Detective Superintendent Chris Thompson said Wright was an unconventional pensioner – still committing night burglaries and associating with criminals.

Mr Justice Openshaw passed a whole life term, saying of Wright: “He remains vigorous and, as his actions on this day show, he remains cunning, devious and, in my judgment, highly dangerous.”