FIVE members of a family have today been convicted over the death of a former Blackburn man whose headless corpse was found in a lake.

Michael Gilbert, 26, was kept as a slave and tortured before being killed and decapitated then dumped in the Blue Lagoon in Arlesey, Bedfordshire, last year.

Although originally from Luton, Mr Gilbert was last known to be living in Blackburn.

James Watt, 27, his girlfriend, Natasha Oldfield, and his brother's girlfriend, Nichola Roberts, were unanimously convicted of Mr Gilbert's murder by a jury at Luton Crown Court.

James's brother, Robert Watt, 20, and his mother, Jennifer Smith-Dennis, 58, were also found guilty of familial homicide.

A third brother, Richard Watt, 25, previously admitted familial homicide and perverting the course of justice.

Speaking after the verdicts today, Mr Gilbert's family said they were pleased with the result but nothing would bring Michael back.

During the trial, the court heard how "vulnerable" Mr Gilbert was treated as a slave by the family.

Prosecutor Stuart Trimmer QC said he was hit with bats, shot, and stabbed. Beatings were often filmed on mobile phones.

On one occasion he was made to goad a large pet lizard until it attacked him with its tail, and Oldfield's diary included plans for a game show where contestants would pay £5 to slap him and £25 to headbutt him, the court heard.

Mr Gilbert escaped several times but they would track him down and force him to come back.

Detectives believe Mr Gilbert died overnight between January 21 and 22 last year as a result of the abuse he had suffered.

A bag containing his headless corpse was found by two dog walkers on May 10, 2009, weighted down with a stone from the patio wall at the Watt family home.

His knee joints, forearm and elbow were missing, as well as his head.

Mr Gilbert's severed head was not discovered until February this year in a prison-issue holdall, along with other missing body parts.