TWO men have been found guilty of a vicious street assault on a man brandishing a hypodermic syringe.

Majeed Shah and Dion Lee gave James Woof a severe beating, Preston Crown Court has heard.

The victim told the jury his head was 'kicked like a football' and for a time he lost consciousness during the attack which took place off Moor Lane, Lancaster.

The three-day trial heard that the assault occurred in February after the injured man was accused of owing a £100.

Crown prosecutor Mr Robert Elias said it was accepted that the victim was not an 'appealing individual' and had almost certainly been a drug user.

But it was alleged that he was given a severe beating about the head and body over the debt. His injuries included facial cuts, bruising and an injured hand.

Shah, 24, and Lee, 22, both of King Street, Lancaster, denied the charge of causing actual bodily harm.

They said the other man was waving the syringe in their direction and shouting that it was infected with Aids. The defendants claimed that they only acted to disarm him.

But Mr Woof said he brought out the syringe when he believed he was about to be attacked. Both men were convicted on a 10-1 majority by the jury.

Judge Ronald Livesay QC remanded both defendants into custody for the preparation of a background report and sentence will take place at Preston Crown Court next month.

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