Two men have been convicted of assault after a stabbing outside a town centre snooker club.

The attack happened outside the Century Club in Lower Stone Street, Maidstone, in July last year when two groups clashed in the early hours, a jury at Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Eleanor Scott Davies told them how the groups didn't know each other prior to the attack.

She said: "While they were in the club there appeared to be no issues between them but after the club closed at 3am both groups were out on the street.

"Issues appear to have arisen between victim William Lakeman and Paul Ojo, resulting in Ojo threatening him with a knife. The two parties then broke up."

William and his brother Richard Lakeman left the area but then return to Lower Stone Street where they are approached again by Ojo and Quinton Nelson.

The prosecutor said 18-year-old Richard Lakeman then attempted to run away but was chased by Ojo with Nelson following.

'Ojo caught up with him and began swinging a knife at him...'

The jury were shown CCTV footage of the clashes.

She added: "Ojo caught up with him and began swinging a knife at him. During this time Richard Lakeman is stabbed several times.

"Mr Lakeman then fell to the floor critically injured and was kicked twice in the head by Nelson, " she added.

Police and emergency services were called and Mr Lakeman was taken by helicopter to a hospital in London where he needed surgery.

Ojo and Nelson were later arrested at Richmond road, Gillingham. They would claim they were acting in self-defence and denied the charges.

The jury convicted Ojo, 22, of Barnfield Road, Orpington, and Nelson of Albany Road, Camberwell, of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a knife.

A third man, Kenneth Robert , of Anerley Vale, Crystal Palace had admitted a knife offence at the beginning of the trial.

All three will now be sentenced in March.

In October we reported how Century Club had been slapped with strict operating conditions after the incident and others.