A man has been convicted of attempting to murder a suspected thief stealing his expensive motorbikes from outside his home.

Gun enthusiast Christopher Nourse was found guilty by a majority 11-1 verdict at Maidstone Crown Court.

But his brother Colin, 40, was acquitted of attempted murder but convicted of illegally possessing a firearm.

They will now be sentenced in October after a judge at Maidstone Crown Court asked for a probation report - and they were remanded in custody.

The court heard how bullets - from a Glock pistol - passed through the arm of Ross Eaglestone as he was allegedly trying to free the expensive bikes parked in Cooper Close, Greenhithe, in March 2020.

Christopher Nourse, 43, from Ospringe Close, Penge, and Colin, 40, from Cooper Close, had both denied attempted murder and possesssing weapons with intent.

Prosecutor Martin Yale had told the jury how gunshots "rang out" in the residential area.

He added: "The target was a group of men who were in the process of trying to steal some motorcycles, including Mr Eaglestone

"He was hit in the arm by two of the bullets and sustained a serious injury. The Crown says the gunman had a clear intention to kill members of that group.

"And whatever Mr Eaglestone and the group were doing that cannot possibly justify shooting at them - let alone in an effort to kill them."

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Eaglestone, who is serving a jail sentence, denied trying to steal the bikes and said he was planning to buy cannabis nearby.

The jury heard after the shooting, the thieves returned and stole the bikes.

Mr Yale added: "The motorcycles that were being targeted belonged to them. They left Colin's flat shortly before the shooting and returned soon afterwards before fleeing to Penge where Christopher lives.

"During that short period numerous gunshots were fired and the two were forensically linked to bullet casings recovered from the scene."

The jury heard a handgun used in the shooting was later found hidden underneath a car parked a few streets away from Christopher's home.

"Firearms paraphernalia was later recovered from Colin's flat and a car linked to the brothers. In the month leading up to the incident the brothers had visited a shooting range in Texas."

The jury have been out for nearly 15 hours before acquitting Colin and convicting Christopher of attempted murder.

Colin was then convicted of possessing firearms with intent to endanger lives and Christopher was also found guilty of possessing a prohibited firearm.

Both men remained passive as the verdicts were returned and he praised their families for the dignity they had shown throughout the trial.

As Christopher was led away to the cells he blew kisses to family members in the public gallery.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens told the brothers they faced lengthy sentences and they will learn their fate on October 7.