A trio accused of knifing a man’s face in a pub doorway missed the verdicts in their own trial - because they were having lunch at Wetherspoon's.

Lewis Jones and Shannon Cook were visiting the Canterbury branch when jurors ruled they had slashed their victim and left him covered in blood in the street.

The 26-year-olds were found guilty of wounding Jack Bardrick in their absence yesterday following a two-week trial at the city’s crown court.

Co-defendant Bradley Jones, 25, who is understood to have been dining with the pair, was acquitted in absence.

Alfie Scott, 32, who was present in the dock after being held on remand, was also convicted of the town centre knifing.

Mr Bardrick was left “covered in blood” after being repeatedly knifed in the face outside the Duke of Cumberland pub in Whitstable High Street.

All four suspects denied causing the long and deep gashes Mr Bardrick suffered to his face, neck and ear.

Giving evidence last week, Scott and Lewis Jones admitted they had punched and kicked their victim - but blamed each other for the knife wounds.

The violence erupted shortly before midnight when a petty row flared between the victim’s group and Cook near the Pearsons Arms in Horsebridge Road.

Cook claimed over the phone she had just been attacked to then-boyfriend Lewis, who soon arrived with Scott in a Land Rover driven by cousin Bradley.

Lewis could be seen on CCTV footage played in court exiting the black Freelander, running towards Mr Bardrick, then repeatedly attempting to rain blows.

He then appeared to knock Mr Bardrick into the pub doorway before Alfie Scott and Bradley Jones entered the alcove shortly afterwards, images showed.

During the attack, Cook appeared to restrain Mr Bardrick’s partner Georgina McKinnon who begged for the gang to stop.

“I just pleaded and said ‘please don’t hurt him, we are really sorry,’ she told jurors while fighting back tears.

But after the four suspects fled, the horrific extent of Mr Bardrick’s injuries were revealed.

Mr Bardrick didn’t see a blade or realise he’d been knifed while trying to fend off his attackers for 20 seconds, he told jurors last Tuesday.

Asked how he felt after realising he had been knifed, Mr Bardrick said: "I was feeling very scared, I was covered in blood."

Lewis and Scott clashed during the trial, blaming each other for wounding Mr Bardrick shortly after midnight on May 14.

“We all know who was responsible for this," Lewis said during evidence.

"[Scott] is a psycho, look at what he has done - you know yourself he is a psycho."

When Scott was asked who had a weapon, he answered: “There was [sic] only two of us in the doorway, it must have been Lewis.”

Jurors took 2 hours and 55 minutes to deliver unanimous verdicts.

"I was feeling very scared, I was covered in blood..."

Scott, of Stodmarsh Road, Fordwich, and Lewis Jones, previously of Brook Road, Swalecliffe, were found guilty of wounding with intent.

Cook, previously of Brook Road, was acquitted of wounding with intent but found guilty of wounding, a lesser charge.

She was acquitted of one count of common assault having pleaded guilty to a separate count of the same charge before trial.

Bradley, of Folkestone Road, Dover, was acquitted of wounding with intent.

After the jury retired on Tuesday morning Judge Mark Weekes ordered Cook, Lewis Jones and Bradley to remain within the court building until lunchtime.

But “all the defendants became confused,” and took an early lunch at JD Wetherspoon's during Tuesday’s Steak Club discount promotion, according to defence counsel.

Judge Weekes said he would not punish the trio for a bail act offence.

He granted Cook bail until sentencing on February 10 but ordered Scott and Jones to be held on remand pending probation reports into dangerousness.

Bradley interrupted proceedings from the public gallery near the end of the hearing, declaring love for his cousin.

"I'm sorry this ever happened, I hope Mr Bardrick continues his life and does as well for himself as he did before this happened," he said.