But Barnes could not take away his victim's grim determination to survive the appalling injuries he inflicted, including several skull fractures and life-threatening brain damage.

Nor could he crush the spirit of a remarkable man whose recovery has surprised doctors who never expected him to pull through.

All those in court for the six-day trial at Hove Crown Court must have been equally impressed by the dignity with which he gave evidence, and, when chatting outside the courtroom, his positive outlook and appealing sense of humour.

And yet the terrible toll on Mr Maynard's life since that October night was spelt out for the court in a victim impact statement made to police.

He says: "What has happened to me is my worst nightmare come true. This so-called friend of mine has destroyed my life, and the lives of my sons and my family."

Mr Maynard, a divorcee, is still on friendly terms with his ex-wife Carmela Barrett. They have two sons, James, 15 and Bradley, 11. Mrs Barrett's husband, Brett, took a £20,000 stake in Mr Maynard's removals business a few weeks before the attack.

"Everything going for me"

From the age of 20 Mr Maynard, now 37, worked his way up to being manager of a large horticultural company in Littlehampton, in charge of many employees.

"Before this incident happened, I had everything going for me. I was very independent and confident, and I worked very hard to build up my removals business, which grew very large after two years of solid hard work."

He had an active life as a member of a local squash and tennis club, enjoyed socialising and drinking with friends, listening to music, travelling in the UK and abroad, taking his sons fishing, and driving, one of his greatest pleasures.

"I can't do things like this any more as a result of what has happened to me, and I miss it."

He adds: "When I woke up two months after this incident, I hardly knew who I was or where I was. I cannot describe the shock of finding that I no longer had my legs, and that I had also lost half of my hand."

Mr Maynard says of Barnes: "This man is a dangerous animal, a monster. . . he needs to be locked away, for life."

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