Two men have been convicted of attempting to murder a relative who had been accused of sexually assaulting a younger family member.

Roger Khan, 57, and his nephew Mohammed Ali, 39, travelled down from their home in London to carry out the vicious attack on restaurant owner Nasim Ahmed as he arrived at his home in Newton Abbot, one night in October 2010.

Nothing was said as the pair, armed with a metal bar and a knife, stabbed and struck father of two Mr Ahmed, Exeter Crown Court heard.

The assault only stopped when the victim's wife Alhala Khatun heard his cries for help and her screams alerted neighbours and the two men ran off.

Prosecutor Malcolm Galloway told Exeter Crown Court that in the latter part of 2009 an allegation was made within the extended family that 'the victim Nasim had sexually assaulted a younger family member' – that allegation was reported to the police only after the attack took place, but has since been withdrawn by the woman.

'The jury may well conclude that this sexual allegation and the subsequent demands for money from the victim Nasim Ahmed and his family, which they refused to comply with, are the probable motive for the attack upon him.

'That took place on October 27, 2010, when the two defendants travelled down together in a silver BMW from London to Newton Abbot, arriving at about 22.24pm.

'At about 23.45pm, Nasim Ahmed was attacked by two men in his front garden of his home in Newton Abbot as he returned home from work.

'The two men were armed with at least a metal bar and a knife.

'The blows and stabs were aimed at the head and face and neck area of Mr Ahmed.

'Nothing was said by the two men as they brutally attacked Mr Ahmed.

'There were no demands for money or indications as to what he must do to persuade the men to stop attacking him.

'The attackers actually ignored the night's takings, which had fallen to the pathway during the attack.

'The attack only came to a stop due to Mr Ahmed's wife, who having heard her husband's cries for help, screamed, which alerted the neighbours and the two men ran off."

Bangladeshi Mr Ahmed was rushed to Torbay Hospital where a doctor said these were the most severe injuries he had seen in several years.

Mr Galloway said he had suffered a fractured skull and 'he was lucky to be alive'.

The Crown claimed the two men involved in the attack were Khan, of Dacre Acre Park, London, and his nephew Ali, of Brokenbury Street, London.

Both men denied attempted murder of Nasin Ahmed – Ali is his brother-in-law – but were convicted by a jury on Wednesday, after a three week long trial.

ROGER KHAN WAS JAILED FOR 30 YEARS AND MOHAMMED ALI FOR 27 YEARS.A full report of the sentencing will be in next week's Mid-Devon Advertiser