A MOTHER last night described the man who plunged a knife into her son's brain as "wicked and evil".

Family and friends filled the public gallery at Oxford Crown Court yesterday as a jury found Leonard Morrison, 37, guilty of the attempted murder of Samuel Marriott-Gray.

Judge Julian Hall said plunging a knife into Mr Marriott-Gray's brain had the same effect as committing murder as he sentenced Morrison to life imprisonment.

The 21-year-old has been left in a vegetative state following the attack outside a party in Blackbird Leys.

A member of the jury wept as family and friends cheered, then gave Judge Hall a round of applause as he left the court.

After the verdict Mr Marriott-Gray's mother Sonia McCarthy, 44, said the family were going straight to her son's bedside.

She said: "Justice has been done. I expected a longer sentence, but he got what he deserved and he has to live with his conscience.

"We saw him (Morrison) around but didn't have much to do with him but knew he was not a good man.

"He is wicked and evil and got everything he deserves.

"Sam is a lovable fun-loving boy. We are going to see him now to tell him what happened."

Morrison - who the court was told was known as Goldteeth or G - sat with his arms crossed and stared straight ahead when the verdict and sentence was read out.

He was given a sentence of life imprisonment and must spend a minimum of nine years behind bars - minus 133 days already served in custody - before he is eligible for release.

Judge Hall recommended Morrison, of Bath Street in Oxford, be deported back to Jamaica when he is released.

The eight-day trial had heard Morrison plunged a 10-inch knife into Mr Marriott-Gray's head during a brawl outside a Blues Party in Pegasus Road, Blackbird Leys, Oxford.

Morrison had claimed to have been left unconscious after being hit by a golf club during the incident.

The blade was embedded in his victim's head and removed by a neurosurgeon at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Mr Marriott-Gray, of Blackbird Leys, is expected to be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life.

Judge Hall thanked witnesses who were at the party, which was described as hostile during the trial, for speaking to police.

Det Supt Steve Tolmie, investigating officer, said: "We are very pleased with the result.

"We worked very hard with people from Blackbird Leys and the community.

"But no matter what the sentence was today, the lives of Sam and family will never be the same."