GP cleared of hiring a hitman to kill adviser

A retired GP has been cleared of attempting to hire a hitman to kill a financial adviser he accused of losing him £1million, but has been found guilty of sending him malicious communications.

A jury at Winchester Crown Court cleared David Crichton, of Bournemouth, Dorset, of trying to solicit the murder of Andrew Bolden on Feb 26 last year.

But he was found guilty of three charges involving text messages and a phone call in which the prosecution said he threatened to commit suicide.

Mr Justice Dingemans adjourned the case for sentencing today.