Puppy farmer John Lowe has been jailed for 25 years for shooting dead mother and daughter Christine and Lucy Lee.

The 82-year-old was convicted of two counts of murder and one of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life after a three-week trial.

He also shot dead four dogs, three German Shepherds and a Mastiff.

Lowe, of Keepers Cottage Stud, Tilford, Surrey, was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 25 years, for the murders and ten years for the firearm charge. Judge Mr Justice Singh said 248 days would be deducted from the minimum term to reflect the days he has spent on remand in custody since his arrest on February 23.

Lowe, looking shocked, stood motionless before he was led away by prison officers.

During speeches by prosecutor Mark Dennis QC and Ian Lawrie QC defending Lowe, Mr Justice Singh was told that a reduced sentence would be in conflict with public interest. Mr Dennis said older defendants such as Lowe could not expect "dramatically reduced sentences because of the limited number of years they had left."

Lowe should expect a sentence which resulted in him dying in prison, he said, noting that the defendant had had ‘a persistent failure to show any true remorse at any stage for what happened that day.

Mr Lawrie said small things must have taken place between the victims and Lowe which could have "sparked significant anger" in the defendant. He quoted Lucy’s boyfriend Matthew Richardson who said Lowe saw Mrs Lee and Ms Lee as ‘guardians but also jailers’.

He said that after Lowe’s long-term partner Susan Wilson died he suffered a decline in his business and personal affairs.

After further consideration in chambers, Mr Justice Singh returned to court to sum up his thoughts. He said Lowe had intended to kill Mrs Lee and Ms Lee rather than cause them serious bodily harm.

"You are a man well used to handling and firing shotguns,” he told Lowe. "On the morning of Sunday February 23 you took your shotgun out of your cabinet and used it to kill Christine Lee. She died of a single gunshot wound to the chest fired at close range at an angle from above.

"I’ve formed the view that after shooting Christine you shot Lucy in the head then pursued her outside to make sure she was dead,” he said, adding that Lowe must have reloaded his gun between shooting Lucy in the head and chest.

He said called Ms Lee’s decision to go back into the house after making the 999 call a ‘remarkable act of courage’.

Outside the court after the sentencing Mrs Lee’s other daughter, Stacey Banner, said: "He’s never getting out. He can never hurt anybody again.”