The two men who stabbed James Bascoe-Smith and left him to die have now been sentenced to life in prison.

Last year, James Bascoe-Smith, then aged 17, was assaulted by Leon Rashid and Taiquane Lewis. The attack has left James in a wheelchair, with brain damage and in need of a full-time carer.James and his family were present as his two attackers were sentenced for conspiracy to murder at the Old Bailey. Leon Rashid, 20, was sentenced to life with a minimum sentence of 14 years.

Taiquaine Lewis, 19, was also sentenced to life, with a minimum sentence of 13 years.Rashid was also found guilty of having an offensive weapon. A third defendant, Stephanie Paez-Lopez, 20, was also cleared of accomplice charges after helping to dispose of the Range Rover used during the crime.The judge described the attack as "carefully planned", as James was knocked off his bike by a Range Rover by the attackers.James was test-riding a bike for his mother when the masked men knocked him off the bike and stabbed him.

James video-called his mother as he lay on the ground in a near-death state before his heart stopped. His life was saved in the hospital once he received medical attention. His heart stopped for roughly 50 minutes, which cause a lack of blood and oxygen to his brain, causing him brain damage. The judge also said: "You chose an entirely innocent teenager, James who had nothing to do with 410 (gang) and was simply testing a bicycle to make sure it was safe for his mum to use. "Had it not been for the medical intervention, this would have been a murder trial.

"He is a shadow is his old self and will never be able to lead a normal life again. "Bascoe-Smith spent 174 days, in the hospital recovering and is still recovering at home. In a pre-recorded video which was shown at the hearing, James wanted to know why he was targeted, and if his attackers "feel bad".James also said: "When I was stabbed by these people I remember crying out for my mum and pleading for them to stop.

"I do not remember much and I could not communicate for six months after the attack.

"They have stopped me from driving, going on my first holiday with my friends to celebrate my 18th birthday, gymnastics coaching, working and from becoming a music producer as I was studying this in college.

"I cannot get out of bed on my own, I can't even brush my own teeth and I need a lot of medication to help me with my recovery."

"I am grateful that the doctors saved my life but living like this is hard, I miss my friends, I miss my old life, every day I wake up knowing this is how I will be forever".

"I have been left in a wheelchair that is not electric. I rely on everyone to move me – I have no independence. I now have a brain injury because my heart stopped for nearly an hour.

I don't think I will ever be able to work or study again. The Metropolitan police discussed the investigation which resulted in the identification of the attackers, saying: "Detectives carried out a painstaking investigation to find those responsible for the attack on James and were ultimately able to identify Rashid and Lewis as a result of considerable cell site work and forensic examinations.

"Rashid was identified through DNA evidence - his DNA had been found on a knife discovered by officers which forensic tests later revealed also had James' blood on it. After viewing hundreds of hours of CCTV connected to the incident, officers also identified footage which showed Rashid running away from an area where a vehicle had crashed and been abandoned after the incident." Lewis was identified after his DNA was recovered from the same vehicle.

During a search of his bedroom, officers found the same type of knives as those used during the attack on James. His DNA was also found on a sheath discovered in a second abandoned vehicle."James' family have set up a GoFundMe page for his recovery and care.