The victim of a vicious acid attack said justice had prevailed after two teenagers were found guilty today.

Aarron Isaac, 19, of, Elverson Road, Lewisham, and a 16-year-old boy from Mitcham in South London, denied carrying out the attack on Wayne Ingold, in Bramble Road, Witham, last August.

A jury returned a unanimous verdict this afternoon after an eight day trial.

Wayne Ingold, 57, who was not in court to hear the verdict, said: "I am buzzing.

"I am absolutely elated.

"I have been in court Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and I purposely wasn’t going to go today because I felt uneasy.

"They were leering at me and laughing in my face all the time.

"I was worried they were going to be found not guilty.

"Justice has prevailed at last.

"The one who threw the acid got some splashed back on his face, the poor little boy.

"We’ll see what sentence he gets because he is just a juvenile but I can guarantee there will be another party that night."

He added: "It has been very, very hard.

"It’s been very wearing when you are sat in court being questioned yourself and they are trying to say me and my witness gave the wrong description.

"It does make you question yourself.

"But being a photographer for 30 years, when I see something, I remember it.

"God has been on my side."

Chelmsford Crown Court heard this week how the 16-year-old attended St George’s Hospital in London with injuries to his eye that day.

When he was later arrested, the boy claimed he had been attacked in the Phipps Bridges estate, south London, and had not alerted police because he was selling cannabis.

The court also heard how “corrosive” liquids had been found in a search of the boy’s home address.

On the day of the attack, Mr Ingold had gone to collect his post from the communal entrance to a block of flats when he encountered two men banging on the door.

Following a brief exchange, the liquid - which was in a glass bottle - was thrown over Wayne and the defendants ran off.

He suffered severe injuries to his hands, body and face and had to have skin grafts, which are still ongoing.

The suspects were caught following extensive investigation and the release of two e-fit images, which were described as excellent likenesses of those eventually charged.

Ds Becky Young who led the investigation, said: "This was a sickening and unprovoked attack by two very dangerous young men on an innocent man who was simply going about his business.

"This attack left the victim with life-changing injuries.

"He will not only be dealing with the physical scars but also the mental scars for a long time to come.

"I hope today’s verdicts bring a small level of closure for him.”

The judge praised Essex Police officers and staff involved in the case for their meticulous and thorough work on the investigation.

Isaac and the 16-year-old boy were remanded in custody until they are sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 6.

The judge warned they face significant custodial sentences.