Two men are behind bars today after they were found guilty of a terrifying attack that left their victim maimed.

A jury took just over three hours to unanimously convict Harron Lee Powell Evans, 31, and Akono Shakir Parsons, 24, of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm against Kuma Smith.

He had a finger chopped off in the Devonshire ambush during which he was sliced with a machete and a hoe.

The four-week trial had heard how Evans and Parsons jumped on motorbikes and pursued Mr. Smith in the Deepdale area.

The jury of 11, who returned their verdict just before 5 p.m. last night, was told the Pembroke pair forced a truck to stop, leapt into the back and attacked Mr. Smith, 30, with the bladed weapons. The victim was in hospital for about five days after emergency surgery, the court heard.

Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney had said various strikes led to Mr. Smith's left "pinkie" finger being chopped off. His arm was also broken in the incident, which happened in daylight on January 5, 2005, and the victim suffered a cut to his left arm so deep that it fractured one of the bones in his forearm. In addition to the GBH verdict, Parsons was found guilty of possessing an offensive weapon — a machete — and assault, but cleared of damaging a motorbike. Evans, meanwhile, was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon — a hoe — and damage.

When the verdicts were delivered, father-of-three Evans reacted angrily and was urged by supporters sitting in the public gallery to calm down. Parsons showed no emotion as the verdicts were read.

Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller last night adjourned sentencing until December 1 and remanded Evans and Parsons in custody. Lawyers Rick Woolridge and Victoria Pearman, who represented Parsons and Evans respectively, asked for social inquiry reports for their clients.

During the four week trial, Evans and Parsons had their charges downgraded from attempted murder to wounding with intent. They pleaded not guilty and said the charges were a case of mistaken identity.

During the trial, the judge ordered the jury to find Davon Michael Marson, 29, not guilty of attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon, saying the evidence did not support the charges against him.