SPEAKING outside of court, Trevor Allen's eldest sister Muriel Farrell paid tribute to a 'lovely dad'.

A number of family members have been present throughout the trial but Mrs Farrell said the case had been too upsetting for others to attend.

She added: "He didn't deserve that, nobody does and I hope he (Slater) rots in hell.

"It's been terrible for the family and we have all been in a state.

"He used to teach truckers and I think seeing him (Slater) on his phone was probably what annoyed him (and led to Mr Allen flashing his lights at Slater).

"I was gutted when I saw the footage of what he's done in the past."

Meanwhile speaking after Mark Slater, aged 47, from Oldham, was convicted for murdering the Swinton grandad his daughter Sarah said: "After a very distressing and emotional trial justice has finally been done for my dad.

"I am very pleased that such a dangerous man has been convicted and is no longer a danger to other people.

"I wouldn’t wish this to happen to another family because it’s destroyed ours more than anyone could ever imagine.

"This has been the hardest 5 months of our lives and maybe now justice has been done we can finally start to try and move on with our lives and grieve.

"It’s so unfair that Mark Slater has taken my dad from us in such a brutal way.  Me, my daughter and the rest of the family will have to carry on without such a wonderful, happy and caring man in our lives.

"Not only has he taken away someone’s son, brother, uncle, nephew and friend to many he has also taken away a little girl’s granddad who she idolised and also my best friend.  Our lives will never be the same again – we will all miss him desperately.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank my friends and family, the police - Steve Beddows, Pete Case, Kevin, Sweeney, especially Jim Earlam and Ruth Janes - for all their help and support throughout all of this.  I would also like to thank Mr Ian Unsworth for the superb job he has done in representing us and bringing Mark Slater to justice.

"We take comfort from the fact that Mark Slater has been found guilty and we now ask that we be left alone to grieve for our loss."