A SECURITY firm boss who blasted his former business partner in the stomach with a shotgun was jailed for seven years yesterday.

Martin Manderville was left "within an inch of his life" after being shot in the stomach by George Doneathy.

The pair, former partners in security firms which provided door staff for pubs and clubs across the region, arranged a "fist fight" to settle their differences.

But when Mr Manderville arrived at Preston Park, near Stockton, Doneathy produced a sawn-off shotgun and blasted his former partner, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Mr Manderville, of Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, spent six weeks in intensive care and required reconstructive surgery on his bowel and abdomen.

Eighty pellets were removed from his stomach and he later suffered a heart attack while recovering in hospital.

In March, Doneathy was cleared of attempted murder after a trial at Teesside Crown Court, but the jury failed to reach verdicts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a firearm with intent.

Yesterday, after a three-week trial and two days of jury deliberations, Doneathy was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, although he was cleared of possessing a firearm with intent to commit wounding.

Doneathy, 35, of Appleby Close, Eaglescliffe, told police Mr Manderville produced the gun and as he tried to disarm him it went off by accident.