TWO friends who beat up a vulnerable man and held a carving knife to his wrists have been convicted of assault.

Neil Young, 31, was found guilty of causing actual bodily harm to 23-year-old Lee Pape and intimidating him into not telling the police.

Co-defendant Steven Mills, 20, admitted assaulting Mr Pape, his cousin, but was cleared of intimidation after the judge ordered a not guilty verdict.

Warrington Crown Court heard during a three-day trial last week how Young and Mills burst into Mr Pape's flat in the early hours and accused him of telling lies about Mills' mum and girlfriend.

Des Parry, prosecuting, said Young grabbed Mr Pape, who has a history of depression and self-harm, by the throat and said: "Steven's going to smack you".

He was then punched to the floor and repeatedly stamped on and kicked.

"Mr Pape then heard Young saying something about grabbing his arm and cutting off his hands and fingers," Mr Parry said.

"Mills held his arm, and a meat cleaver or carving knife was produced and used twice (by Young) on his right wrist."

The men left after warning their victim not to contact the police, but Mr Pape did speak out and 10 days after the assault on August 20 last year, they were arrested.

Young denied the assault, saying he had been at work at the time of the 3am attack. Mills admitted being there but denied stamping on his cousin's head or using a weapon.

Both men were bailed but hours later Young approached Mr Pape and said: "If I wasn't on police bail you would be in a box by now, buried".

Phillip Hall, defending Young, said Mr Pape, who had suffered a nervous breakdown and taken an overdose, had inured his arms on glass from a broken window.

A jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts for both counts against Young.

Mills, of Stenhills Crescent, Runcorn, and Young, of Keeper's Walk, Castlefields will be sentenced next month.