A WIRRAL man who squirted a mystery chemical substance into a cab driver's eyes leaving him in agony has been warned to expect a jail sentence.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that there had been a long-running feud between the two men involving previous incidents and which culminated in the attack.

A jury took just six minutes to find Denis Rich guilty of assaulting Paul Bruce causing actual bodily harm but cleared him of an alternative charge of a racially-aggravated assault.

Judge Denis Watson, QC, warned 46-year-old Rich to expect a jail sentence when he returns to court but renewed his bail so he can attend a medical appointment and get his affairs in order.

Kyra Badman, prosecuting, told the court that the incident happened on the evening of January 6 last year in King Street, Seacombe, after Mr Bruce got out of his black cab to go to a shop near the junction with Union Street.

Mr Bruce's former partner was in a relationship with Rich and "there was no love lost between the two gentlemen because of that background," she said.

About 7.15 pm that evening there was an exchange of words between the two men with Rich shouting abuse at Mr Bruce.

An hour later Mr Bruce got out of his cab on King Street and saw Rich drive past in a Vauxhall Vectra heading towards New Brighton.

Rich's vehicle did a u-turn and then pulled up alongside Mr Bruce and words were exchanged.

As Mr Bruce was leaning towards the vehicle Rich squirted some sort of substance towards him and drove off, allegedly shouting "you f…ing n…," said Miss Badman.

"Mr Bruce felt immediate pain and went into the shop and the shopkeeper helped him wash his eyes out."

At hospital it was found 51-year-old Mr Bruce had suffered "a bi-lateral chemical eye injury" causing ulcers on the corneas of both eyes.

He was suffering from reduced vision and was very sensitive to light.

When questioned Rich, of Vivian Avenue, Seacombe, denied that he had been alone in the car and denied squirting anything at the victim.

He admitted swearing at him but denied using racist language, said Miss Badman.

Mr Bruce told the jury that he had not been leaning into the car but was leaning down towards it to make eye contact with Rich and was telling him to "f…off."

He claimed that Rich "harasses people" and said that on one occasion Rich had "pulled an axe" on him.

Giving evidence Rich maintained he had not used racist words but admitted lying to police about others being in the car and about squirting liquid, explaining that he was "panicking" during the interview.

He said he had spray bottles of car polish on his front seat, as he had been cleaning the vehicle earlier, and picked one up and squirted it towards Mr Bruce in self-defence as he was fearful of him.

He denied intentionally assaulting the victim by squirting a liquid in his eyes.

After he alleged that Mr Bruce had assaulted him on previous occasions the jury heard that Rich has previous convictions including two battery offences, assault and affray.