Kyle Parvez was today facing a lengthy jail term after a jury found him guilty of trying to kill Dilbag Singh.

But Mr Singh rushed to court after the verdict to defend Parvez and second man Zainul James, who although cleared of attempted murder, was convicted of arson.

On the steps of Preston Crown Court Mr Singh, from Deepdale, said of the verdict: "It's not on".

The 27-year-old, who had 56 pellets taken from his body after the shooting, said: "The verdict is bad. I'm not happy. If I didn't recognise the lads who shot me, how could the jurors? It's pathetic."

Although Mr Singh told the jury he did not recognise his attackers, the jury heard he initially named the pair to police.

The jury also convicted Parvez, of Arnhem Road, Callon, on a charge of having a firearm with intent to murder.

The jury convicted co-defendant James, 18, no fixed address, of arson, being reckless as to whether residents on Manor House Lane were endangered, in relation to a car torched after the shooting.

All verdicts were unanimous. After the verdicts Parvez's father Saj said: "It's untrue. I am absolutely gobsmacked."

Earlier in the trial, on the judge's direction, James was cleared of attempted murder and the firearms offence.

Mr Singh was shot in the neck during what the two and a half week trial heard had been a turf war between rival drug gangs from the Deepdale and Fishwick areas of the city.

Mr Singh initially told police he did not know the culprits. But five days later he was said by the prosecution to have made a statement in which he named his attackers.

But in court he claimed he had been pressured by police into naming the defendants, and insisted his name had been forged on that statement.

A schoolboy told police he saw James approaching the car with a petrol can just before it burst into flames. Both defendants said they had nothing to do with the shooting or arson.

Judge Stuart Baker said he wanted an assessment to be made into the level of danger Parvez posed to the public.

Both men were remanded in custody and will return to Preston Crown Court for sentencing on December 23.

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