A man and a woman are facing jail after taking part in a violent assault that left a vulnerable man fighting for his life.
The victim, a 28-year-old man with learning difficulties, was stabbed in the stomach and hand after he refused demands to hand over money and to sell drugs.
Michael Nkrumah, 20, of Thornton Heath, Croydon was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent on Wednesday, after a 19-day trial at Blackfriars Crown Court.
The victim’s ex-girlfriend, Shaniqua Pettifor, 23, of Kennington Park Road, Southwark had previously pleaded guilty to causing assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Croydon Crown Court.
Blackfriars Crown Court heard that the victim had been in a relationship with Pettifor for a number of weeks prior to the assault, after they met when they struck up a conversation in the street.
The attack happened on December 28, when Pettifor visited the victim’s flat in Camberwell, along with Nkrumah and three other unknown men.
They demanded money from the victim and told him he would have to sell drugs for them.
The victim refused their demands, and in response Pettifor produced a knife and stabbed him on the hand causing a cut to his thumb.
Nkrumah then also produced a knife and stabbed the victim in the stomach.
The suspects ran from the property, leaving the victim with a stab wound so severe it had perforated his bowel.
Despite his extensive wounds, the victim was able to call his mother, who in turn called an ambulance, and he managed to make his way to his mother’s home nearby.
He was taken to hospital with injuries so severe he needed a life-saving emergency operation.
Detectives from Southwark borough launched an immediate investigation, and Nkrumah was arrested on December 31 and charged the day after.
Pettifor was arrested on December 30, and subsequently charged on Monday, February 1.
The other three suspects have not yet been identified.
Nkrumah and Pettifor are both due to be sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday.
Detective Constable Sophie Lugar-Mawson, of Southwark CID, said: “This was a vile attack on a vulnerable man.
“These people sought to exploit and manipulate him by taking his money and demanding he sell drugs for them.
“When he refused they carried out a vicious attack that could have taken his life had it not been for the tremendous work by the responding officers, paramedics and A&E staff.
“The team at Southwark CID and I are glad the two people responsible for directly committing such a horrendous attack have been brought to justice.
“It is important those who are vulnerable are protected and criminals who seek to exploit them face the consequences of their actions.”