A TEENAGE mum was today spending her first day behind bars after jurors convicted her of taking part in a horrific attack on a lone cyclist as he made his way home.

David Baker was left with severe head injuries after the savage beating in which he was kicked, punched and stamped upon.

The 24-year-old had reached the Central Bridge in Southampton where he had the misfortune to meet a gang coming in the opposite direction. The four had been drinking and the three men were also high on crack cocaine. They launched a ferocious attack on him, leaving him lying on the ground, before they walked off without a care in the world.

Students living nearby heard the commotion and found Mr Baker barely able to breathe. They called an ambulance and he was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery after it was discovered he was suffering from bleeding under the skull and across the front of his brain.

Although he has returned home, David will never fully recover from his injuries.

During the trial a statement from his mother, solicitor Jane Hiatt, was read out in which she described her son as “a happy, lively sociable character, who was quite outgoing, who was not violent and would never get involved in any sort of confrontation or fight”.

Stephanie Hill, 19, and the main aggressor John Smith were overheard talking about the attack while reading the Echo.

Yesterday Hill, of Lydgate Road, Thornhill, Southampton, was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. She had admitted the lesser charge of common assault, claiming that she had not kicked David Baker hard, but denied the more serious allegation.

After retiring for just over three hours the jury returned with a guilty verdict.

They also found her guilty of helping to steal beer from the Co-op a few hours earlier.

Recorder Stewart Patterson rejected a bail application, noting that Hill ran off when police went to arrest her and fearing she would abscond remanded her in custody until July 22 when she will be sentenced with Smith.

Location of the attack

He told her: “As your council has pointed out, you are likely to receive a custodial sentence.”

Hill began sobbing before she was led away.

Smith, 27, of Tamella Road, Botley, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent at an earlier hearing and has been remanded in custody.

Two other men were interviewed over the attack but no proceedings were brought owing to a lack of evidence.