THE family of Stephen Palfrey, who was left severely brain damaged after a brutal assault on April 13 last year, have expressed relief at the guilty verdict at Bristol Crown Court on his work colleague Paul King.

King was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent.

Det Insp Bob Hamlin said Chippenham Police and Mr Palfrey's family were satisfied with the verdict.

"Because of the extent of Stephen's injuries, he was unable to appear in court, but I am glad that the jury made this decision and the police are pleased with the verdict, as was Stephen's mother, who has now returned to Manchester," he said.

"Immediately after the attack, I thought it might be a murder inquiry, as Stephen was so badly injured. And as a result, Stephen now faces a reduced quality of life. But this was undoubtedly a sustained and violent attack and the guilty verdict is the right one."

Last week, the court saw witness Deborah Isaac break down in tears as she described the attack at Mr Palfrey's home in Wood Lane, which she saw from the bedroom window of her home across the road.

During her 90-minute testimony, she said she was woken in the middle of the night by a loud noise. She looked out of her window and saw a large man, later identified as King, banging at Mr Palfrey's door.

"When the door was opened, he immediately launched an attack on Mr Palfrey," she said. "They started arguing and the man (King) pushed Stephen backwards. He then grabbed him and started pushing back and forth about eight to ten times, He virtually had hold of him like a rag doll."

King is due to be sentenced by the court on April 4.