Arulmurugan Sebamalai, 23, was left with his hand hanging from his wrist after being targeted by the 'East Ham Gang.'

The victim and his friends, members of a Tamil gang known as DMX, were ambushed by a gang of up to 25 as they travelled to play cricket.

Armed with swords and pick-axe handles they singled out Mr Sebamalai and rained down a series of blows as gang members shouted: 'Slash him Psycho, kill him.'

As Mr Sebamalai, who had grabbed a cricket bat for protection, lifted his arm to shield his face, the razor-sharp sword blade sliced through his arm and exposed the bone.

Seven gang members were convicted of a string of offences at the Old Bailey last month.

Cashier Senthurrajah 'Psycho' Thavapalasingham, 21, and jobless Kirubananantharasa Gunaratnam, 32, student Arumugan Paratheeban, 25, and factory worker Sabesan Sivaneswaran, 20, were jailed for life.

Mr Sebamalai had identified 'Psycho' and Gunaratnam as his attackers and a jury convicted them both of attempted murder and violent disorder.

Jobless Santosh Panthaplavil Sasidharan, 24, was jailed for three years, salesman Selvarajah Mayuran, 28, was caged indefinitely and given a minimum term of five years and salesman Edward Jaganathan, 26, was jailed for nine years.

Judge Richard Hawkins QC told them: 'Gang warfare on the streets of London will not be tolerated.'

Gang leader Thavapalasingham boasted how he conned police into releasing him on bail after his arrest for murder by claiming he was only a witness.

He also confessed that he was going to offer the victim's family £40,000 to not pick him out on an identity parade.

The attack took place on August 28, 2006, after the 'East Ham Gang' tracked down Mr Sebamalai to Braemar Avenue, Wembley, northwest London.

The 25-strong gang, in five cars, had driven to a Hindu temple in Tooting, southwest London, looking for the target before heading to Wembley.

When they spotted Mr Sebamalai in a car with his friends, they surrounded the vehicle and launched a mob attack.

Prosecutor Steven Perian said: 'The victims were all travelling together in a single vehicle, a white Suzuki Swift, which was being driven by Ashokumar Tharmarajah, on route to One Tree Hill where they were intending to play a game of cricket.

'The East Ham Gang got out of their vehicles, armed with pieces of wood and pickaxe handles and started throwing things at Tharmarajah's car.

'Tharmarajah and his friends stopped and got out of their car.

'They armed themselves with cricket bats and wickets from within the boot of their car.'

Gunaratam and Thavapalasingham got out of a green BMW and picked out two swords from the boot while other gang members started throwing bottles at the DMX gang and Mr Sebamalai was hit on the head as he tried to flee.

'When he fell to the ground, both Kiruba and Psycho attacked Sebamalai with swords,' Mr Perian said.

'Sebamalai tried to defend himself with a cricket bat that he was holding but he still received a deep cut to his left forearm, partially severing the arm and exposing the bone.

'This happened when he was trying to protect his head from the sword strokes.

'He was also cut on his right arm, his hip, his back and he sustained a fracture to his head.

'He also described being hit by some of the other males with clubs during the fracas.'

Mr Sebamalai's friends, Ashokumar Tharmarajah and Iynkaran Tharmalingam saw him being slashed, before the fight was eventually broken up when a police van travelling back from the Notting Hill Carnival arrived on the scene.

Describing the attack in a statement to the police, the victim said: 'Psycho was armed with a samurai sword. The sword was around three feet long, silver coloured. It wasn't in a sheath.

'He was holding it in a raised position and running towards us. I got out the car, and I had a bat in my hand.

'When he started cutting me repeatedly I tried to block it. On the bat there were many marks and cuts.'

Giving evidence during the trial Mr Sebamalai confirmed his statement was correct and said that Kiruba was also armed with a sword.

He said: 'At the time they made a cut I didn't see the person who cut me.'

But under questioning he added: 'I was cut by Psycho.'

Thavapalasingham was arrested at the scene while Gunaratam was arrested hiding in a nearby street.

Other members of the East Ham Gang were arrested after a police search of the area.

Thavapalasingham boasted to friends how he had given police a false statement after being arrested, handcuffed and driven to the police station.

He also claimed he would offer the victim £40,000 through his best friend, who was a relative of the victim's family.

Thavapalasingham later told a friend that he had bought two samurai swords for £80 each and would have killed Arul if the police had not arrived, the court heard.

Judge Hawkins said: 'It was a pre-planned gang attack with dangerous weapons to inflict grave injuries on the victim.

'You were armed with a samurai sword and other weapons and some specifically prepared to cause violence...I am referring to a stick with bolts protruding from it.'

He continued: 'There was a nearby park where the public and children were around. Regardless of the local population and in full view you attempted to kill Arulmurugan Sebamalai.

'I have considered the general background in this case and come to the conclusion as to each of you and your involvement with the East Ham Gang.'

Thavapalasingham, of North Street, Romford, and Gunaratnam, of Montreal Avenue, Barking, were given life sentences with a minimum term of 12 years, for attempted murder.

Sivaneswaran, of Osborne Road, Forest Gate, London, was jailed for life with a minimum term of eight years, and Paratheeban, of Victoria Maze, West Green, Crawley, West Sussex, was given life with a minimum term of nine and a half years.

Sasidharan, of Green Street, Upton Park, was found guilty of violent disorder but cleared of attempted murder and wounding with intent.

Mayuran, of Clements Road, East Ham and Jaganathan, of Portland Road, Mitcham were found guilty of wounding with intent and violent disorder but cleared of attempted murder.

All defendants were given three year concurrent terms for violent disorder.