A man has been convicted of leading a gang attack and robbery on a cricket club manager. Jahkiel Samuels, 24, was recognised by victim Tareek Somner, 28, during the assault, which left him battered and bruised.

Mr. Somner gave evidence last month of how Samuels led a group of seven men who took him hostage in his own car then beat and robbed him.

The gang approached him as he left Bailey's Bay Cricket Club, where he's team manager, on April 25, 2009.

The men stopped his car from exiting the parking lot, and three of them opened the doors and jumped in.

They "begged" for a lift to Hamilton and Mr. Somner obliged, under duress. As he headed towards town, his car was tailed by the other four men on motorcycles.

The incident turned violent when Mr. Somner, who lives in Hamilton Parish, pulled in at Burchall's Cove and refused to take the men any further.

All seven turned on him, punching him to the ground before kicking and beating him and stealing his wallet and BlackBerry phone.

The victim described Samuels as the "ringleader" of the group, who sat in the front passenger seat of his car and threw the first blow during the attack.

He explained that he recognised him from encounters at Hamilton city bars particularly Ozone nightclub, where Mr. Somner used to work as a bouncer.

He also recognised Samuels' voice, which he described as particularly soft and hoarse, and later picked him out of a Police ID parade.

Samuels was convicted by Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo yesterday. Mr. Tokunbo described Mr. Somner as a credible witness who stuck to his account despite "extended, detailed and vigorous" cross examination from defence lawyer Elizabeth Christopher.

Samuels elected not to give evidence in his own defence, but Ms Christopher suggested the case was one of mistaken identity.

Mr. Tokunbo remanded Samuels into custody after convicting him of robbery using force, and assault occasioning bodily harm. He'll be sentenced on March 25.

He is due to stand trial in May on other charges, relating to a drugs bust at the Hamilton Princess Hotel on New Year's Eve.

Samuels and four other men were arrested in a room at the venue and charged with cannabis possession. Samuels is further charged with allowing the room which was rented in his name to be used for the misuse of controlled drugs. Police confiscated $6,800 that they allegedly found on his person.

President of the community organisation Youth On The Move, Carlton Smith, spoke in support of Mr. Samuels when he was charged in January over the drugs matter. He said Mr. Samuels had cooperated with the Commissioner of Police to be part of a ten-day Christmas ceasefire between Bermuda's warring gangs.

Samuel's mother, Lee-Ann Samuels-Dill was present in court for yesterday's verdict but declined to comment afterwards. Her younger son, Jah-Lario Samuels-Dill, was injured in a shooting in Glebe Road last November.

Mr. Somner also declined to comment on the case.