A COUPLE were convicted at the Old Bailey of the death of a drug dealer in Ealing.

Christopher McDonald, 34, of Croydon, was found guilty of murder and conspiracy to rob and Aliysa Ellis, 30, of Loveday Road, Ealing, of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.

They will be sentenced at the same court on April 3.

The court heard Ellis and McDonald had planned to rob Paul Tong, 54, in April 2017.

His body was found when family members grew concerned and called police to a house in Willcott Road, Ealing, the following day.

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A post-mortem revealed a number of injuries, including fractured ribs and a ruptured liver.

Detectives established that an exercise bar found behind the door of the bedroom was likely to have caused the injuries.

Messages on McDonald’s phone, recovered by police, sent to him by Ellis read “make sure you get the P” - “P” (slang for money).

The pair were also in contact throughout the next day and were eventually arrested.

Det Sgt Lee Tullett said: “Ellis knew Paul Tong dealt drugs and kept cash and other valuables in his bedroom.

“He was subjected to a violent attack and the pair then callously left him fatally injured in his bedroom before his body was found the next day.”