A TEENAGE drug dealer who took a photo of a Cheshire man he had battered has been convicted of attempted murder.

The Crown Prosecution Service said that the 17-year-old from Manchester, who can't be named because of his age, inflicted horrific injuries on his victim with a hammer.

He even bragged to officers as he was taken to a police station in Middlewich.

The victim, 39-year-old Jamie Lloyd from Nantwich, was attacked at a flat in Arnold Street, Nantwich.

The 17-year-old had been dealing Class A drugs from the flat of a 42-year-old drug user.

At 8.20pm on July 26, police received an anonymous call to the address - the attack happened just under four hours earlier after Mr Lloyd had bought drugs from the flat.

Police discovered Mr Lloyd in the bedroom and he was described as 'unrecognisable'.

He was taken to hospital and, after several operations, he survived but remained in hospital for rehabilitation for a considerable time.

The 42-year-old man who lived in the flat was present when police attended and was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

He was acquitted by a jury at Chester Crown Court on Thursday.

The 17-year-old was arrested in Gorton in Manchester on July 31.

At the time of his arrest, he had a meat cleaver tucked into the waistband of his tracksuit bottoms.

He bragged to officers as he was taken to a police station in Middlewich, saying that 'it’s not hard to kill someone'.

The investigation found that the 17-year-old had taken a picture of Mr Lloyd after the attack and sent it to a few individuals.

In a further interview he was shown a copy of the picture by police officers when they were questioning him, but he laughed and tore it up.

Senior district crown prosecutor, Carolyn Viviani, of CPS Mersey Cheshire said: "This attack was quick, brutal and was meant to kill Jamie Lloyd.

"He is lucky to be alive but sustained life-changing injuries including losing his sight.

"Analysis of the 17-year-old defendant’s mobile telephone revealed chats with others about the attack and also videos showing him in the flat with drugs, scales, a knife, and a hammer.

"The gruesome picture of Jamie Lloyd was taken by him to boast and perhaps explain to others involved in the illegal supply of drugs what had been done.

"The fact that this attack was carried out by someone who is still so young is shocking.

"The jury found him guilty, and, for a youth, he is likely to get a substantial sentence."