A GANG stabbed a 27-year-old more than six times in the back, neck and head and left him bleeding in the street after a completely random and unprovoked attack, Aylesbury Crown Court heard.

The victim, Steven Goddard, was walking home after a night out with friends when he was attacked just metres from the safety of his home. The stabbing happened close to the railway station in Totteridge Road, High Wycombe, last year.

On Thursday, Osman Khushi and Zeeshan Kayani were found guilty of GBH with intent and Saqib Khaliq guilty of GBH. Khaliq was allowed to remain on police bail until all three are sentenced on November 17.

Speaking after the verdict, Mr Goddard, a marketing programmer, said: "I just can't believe anyone would do something like this. I am glad they found them all guilty."

Mr Goddard is upset that one of his attackers has been allowed to continue to live in the community until he is sentenced.

He said: "It is ridiculous that someone who has been convicted of a crime like this is allowed to work.

"It took me three months to recover and I am not yet fully recovered from the trauma my body suffered.

"For someone to be convicted of having a part in this crime and being able to walk away from court is disgusting."

Mr Goddard told the court last week that on the night of the attack he "felt quite intimidated" when saw three men walking towards him.

He said one man advanced and blocked his path. A one-minute violent attack ensued which left him half naked, with a punctured lung, covered in 3cm deep gashes and blood pouring down his back.

Crown prosecutor Kevin Barry said: "This case has all been about back stabbing. But the blameless Steven Goddard was not the only one who has been stabbed in the back."

Mr Barry said each of the defendants in turn, while giving evidence, had attempted to shift the blame for the attack. He concluded: "Like three snakes that have been put in a pit the three defendants have all been biting one another."

Jason Cross, defending Kayani, 24, from Slough, said: "Khushi says Kayani attacked him. Kayani says it was all Khushi. Khaliq says it was Khushi and Kayani together."

He also said Khushi had threatened his client with a knife earlier in the evening during a private dispute in the Falcon pub car park in High Street.

Paul Wakerley, defending Khushi, 21, of Underwood Road, High Wycombe, said it was all Kayani acting alone, while his client had intervened momentarily to place a restraining hand on Kayani's shoulder before walking away again.

Tom Buxton, defending Khaliq, of Hubert Road, High Wycombe, said his client was the youngest member of the party at 18 and was ignorant of a knife being used.

He said Khaliq had remained on the periphery during the stabbing.

The judge said all three face a lengthy jail term.

Sitala Peek & Jenna Towler