A hitman who stabbed a Croydon bouncer to death on the orders of an underworld boss was jailed for 25 years last Friday.

Mark Dorling, 38, from Tadworth, and his henchmen were paid £10,000 to attack 23-year-old victim Aaron Chapman at his home in Sutton on December 10, 2002.

Corrupt prison officer Mr Chapman who moonlighted as a bouncer for the Litten Tree and Up The Creek Too Comedy Club in Croydon was said to have connections with north London's notorious Adams family and had also offended countless criminals by dealing cocaine and two-timing with their girlfriends or daughters.

Dorling gave Mr Chapman a punishment strike' of a knife slash to the face in his own home, but the bodybuilder fought back so he was stabbed 14 times to the head and body and left bleeding to death.

The victim, who was suspended from his job at Highdown prison in Banstead for moonlighting as a doorman, was able to dial 999 but never revealed the identity of his attackers.

Dorling was only arrested after he bragged about the killing to his girlfriend and a disgraced solicitor in one boast he claimed the attack was carried out on the orders of his boss to send out a message to the Adams family.

Former squaddie and prison officer Dorling who as a child saw his mother stab his father to death claimed he was walking his dog at the time of the killing. However, he was found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey last week.

Sentencing Dorling to life imprisonment, Judge Giles Forrester said he accepted the attack was only meant to wound Mr Chapman but added: "This was a professional contract attack which turned into a killing. It was also carried out for gain and extensive injuries were inflicted upon Aaron Chapman.

"I have no doubt that you were armed in advance and there were two of you."

James Pearson, 39, from Kingswood, was cleared of murder and manslaughter but found guilty of conspiracy to wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He had been round to Mr Chapman's house earlier on the night of the killing and he was jailed for a total of 13 years after admitting possession of firearms.

John Gordon, a 33-year-old barber from Hampton Road in Croydon, was earlier cleared of murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and walked free from court.