Director facing prison over attack in village.

A COMPANY director who led an attack by a gang of men on a group of friends on a day out in Northumberland, leaving one on a life support machine, faces jail after being found guilty yesterday.

Shaun Beckingham, 36, was convicted by a jury of GBH and affray for attacking members of the Prudhoe Conservative Club who were on a trip to Seahouses, in October 2005.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he hit one member of the group, Geoffrey Armstrong, 28, outside the Harbour Inn pub - leaving him with a blood clot on his brain.

Mr Armstrong, who was spotted by his father Alan dripping with blood, ended up on a life support machine and had 36 staples in his head. More than a year later, could not give evidence during the trial because of his injuries.

After the attack, Mr Armstrong senior tried to round up his group to leave the village, but as they made their way down Main Street, they were attacked by 15 men armed with bats.

Beckingham, of Kippylaw, Sea-houses, had denied three counts of assault by beating, one of GBH and one of affray, while co-defendant Christopher Hamilton, also of Kippylaw, denied ABH and affray.

Beckingham was cleared of the assault charges but found guilty of GBH and affray, while Mr Hamilton was cleared of all charges.

Beckingham was warned prison was "almost inevitable." Sentencing was adjourned for three weeks.