Teenagers attacked sleeping man

Oliver Skeggs (right) was convicted of attempted murder

Four teenagers who filmed an attack on a homeless man have been convicted of inflicting life-threatening injuries.

Paul Vickers, 40, was hit on the head and body with a wheel brace in Fishbourne, West Sussex, in July 2007.

Oliver Skeggs, 17, of Chichester, was found guilty of attempted murder after a trial at Lewes Crown Court.

Alistair Field, 17, and Terry Bryan, 19, were convicted of causing GBH with intent. Ross Beeby, 19, of Bognor, previously admitted the same charge.

Police said Mr Vickers will never fully recover from the injuries he received when he was repeatedly struck with the wheel brace while he slept in a bus shelter on 24 July.

Ross Beeby pleaded guilty and Terry Bryan was convicted in court

A 25-second video filmed on a mobile phone and showing Mr Vickers being attacked was played to the jury during the trial.

Det Insp Nigel Brown, from Sussex Police, said: "This attack was on a defenceless and homeless victim who was asleep on a bench at a bus shelter when he was attacked without reason or warning.

"This horrific and callous act was apparently committed for no other reason than to satisfy the offenders' need for violence, and for their own sadistic pleasure.

"The filming of the attack by the group, presumably so they could enjoy watching it afterwards and circulate it amongst others, was a particularly sickening aspect that highlights the nature of them as individuals."

All four were remanded in custody to be sentenced at a date to be fixed in the next six weeks.