The second night-time attack, on April 30, left 43-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer Damien Shepherd seriously injured and still recovering in hospital four months later.

The savage assault left him in intensive care with a fractured skull and eye socket and a huge gash along his face. Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC has requested medical updates on Mr Shepherd, who is still in hospital.

A week earlier they had assaulted 25-year-old cyclist Thomas Croft, dargging him off his bike and beating him. When he flagged down a passing car for help he found his attackers in it, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Andrew Gorton, 21, of Burnley Road, Portsmouth, Todmorden, Jonathan Jackson, 18, of Robinwood Terrace, Lydgate, Todmorden, and Andrew Law, 18, of Bedford Street, Lydgate, Todmorden, then renewed their assault, attacking him for a second time.

The court heard the three attacked their victims around the same spot, at the corner of Knotts Road and Burnley Road.

With regard to the attack on Mr Shepherd, Gorton and Jackson pleaded guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm with intent while Law was found guilty of the offence by a majority verdict of 10-2. All three had admitted to committing actual bodily harm with intent in a near carbon copy attack on Mr Croft on April 23.

Judge Durham Hall said: "These were two attacks on completely innocent and vulnerable members of society, custody is the clear option." The three will be sentenced for both attacks on October 7.

Mr Nadir Bashir, prosecuting, told the court that on April 30 the three parked their car and just before midnight ambushed Mr Shepherd, who wasl Continued from Page One
completely unaware. "Law and Gorton approached him and Law punched him in the face.
He staggered backwards before being pushed to the ground in the middle of the road.
"The two men then dragged him by the shoulders out of sight to where Jackson was waiting and subjected him to a violent and brutal assault."
Mr Shepherd was kicked and punched in the face, head and body.
Aimee Moss told the jury she witnessed Mr Shepherd being ambushed and attacked.
She later found him outside lying in a pool of blood and struggling to breathe.
Mrs Moss and fellow neighbours fetched pillows and blankets for Mr Shepherd, who is well-known locally, before an ambulance and the police arrived.
Law admitted spending an evening drinking with Jackson and Gorton before going for a drive shortly before midnight after "deciding they wanted to hit someone".
Mr Adrian Strong, for Law, said he accepted he threw the first punch, but claims he then ran off before returning to try to drag the other two away.
Mr John Greenwood, a tiler, who works with Law, told the court how he advised Law to turn himself in to police after he learned of the attack during a cigarette break the next day.
Mr Greenwood told the jury: "He was a young lad influenced by other people and easily led."
Law, who says he turned himself in after receiving a death threat from Gorton, told the court he denied grievous body harm with intent but admitted a lesser charge ABH.
He said he accepted he threw the first punch but then ran off before returning to stop the other two attacking Mr Shepherd.
The court heard that a week earlier the three pounced on cyclist Thomas Croft after driving past him in Burnley Road, Cornholme, "for a bit of fun."
They passed Mr Croft before doing a U-turn and laying in ambush for him at 1.55 am on April 23, at the same spot where they attacked Mr Shepherd on April 30.
Mr Bashir told the court Mr Croft was dragged off his bike and beaten by Law and Gorton.
He managed to escape down Burnley Road and waved down a passing car for help.
His attackers were inside.
Mr Bashir said: "He was oblivious they were the same attackers and they said they would help. They took him to the field where his bike was and then Gorton said: 'It was us' before punching him in the head."
They then launched into a savage attack, even ripping off his cycle helmet to inflict more damage.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Shepherd's sister Bernadette said: "I am pleased. It is a just verdict and I hope it sends out a message that you can't go around attacking vulnerable people with impunity."