THE victim of a frenzied stab attack today spoke of his ordeal for the first time after his attacker was found guilty, and said: "It's time to start thinking of the future."

Father-of-two Mark Winstanley was stabbed four times in September by a man who turned on him when he went to his aid after hearing cries for help.

Gary Turner, 31, of Snape Street, Darwen, is in custody awaiting sentence after being found guilty of the attack at Burnley Crown Court.

Mark, 28, and his family have suffered a nine-month ordeal of hospital surgery and police enquiries.

They put their first house in Gillibrand Street up for sale after the attack because of the "bad memories". Mark was too upset to return to the scene after the incident.

He said: "It has been a long wait but we are just happy to get it over with. We had to move house immediately after the attack. We just couldn't live there any more.

"We weren't scared, it was just that we wanted to get on with our lives and start again somewhere else."

The week-long trial was postponed twice before it began last Tuesday. Police said it was still not known why Turner stabbed Mark in the back, chest, side and arm outside his home at around 2am on September 22.

They described the attack as a "particularly horrendous offence" and described Turner as dangerous.

Mark's wife Andrea, 29, and children Michael, three, and nine-month-old Georgia, were in the house at the time of the attack.

Mark said: "It is sad that this is what community life has come to. Even after the trial I still don't know why he did it or why it was necessary to stab me.

"That is the hardest part. If I had done something to deserve it then it would have been easier but this attack was totally unprovoked."

Since the attack, Mark has undergone surgery to repair damaged tendons in his left arm which still cause significant disability. The family are keeping their new address and places of employment a secret to avoid any repercussions.

DC Dave Braithwaite, of Darwen police, said: "Mark has gone through a nightmare and is still living with the repercussions of the attack. To this day nobody knows why it happened."

Mark has also had to give up his job for a door-to-door products company but said: "It has actually made me a stronger person. It was hard at first but I have come to terms with it."

And he is convinced the attack will not stop him going to someone's rescue again.

"People ask me if I would still go to help someone. It wouldn't stop me but I would be more wary."

Turner was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent after being identified as the attacker from an ID parade, DNA evidence and fingerprints.

He will be sentenced on June 28 and faces up to eight years in prison.