A 16-year-old boy who stabbed a man with a Samurai Sword has been found not guilty of attempted murder. 

The jury acquitted the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, after more than eight hours of deliberations at Southampton Crown Court. 

The trial previously heard how the teenager had attacked Ben Glasspool with the sword on Laburnum Road, Southampton near Daisy Dip. 

The weapon cut through three of his ribs and punctured his lung and he was rushed to hospital for surgery after the incident in October last year. 

He suffered a "massive wound" to his back as well as injuries to his arms and legs.

READ MORE: Boy sliced three of man's ribs with samurai sword in attack, trial told

But the teenager told the jury he had gone to get the sword for "self-defence" and had planned to "hurt him a little bit but there wasn't intention to kill".

The boy previously pleaded guilty to section 18 wounding with intent before the start of the six-day trial. 

He is now due to be sentenced on June 14, alongside Nicola Kayley, 36 and Barry Kayley, 18 - both of Bluebell Road, Southampton. 

READ MORE: Daisy Dip: Boy who stabbed man says he had 'no intention to kill'

Nicola Kayley has pleaded guilty to assisting an offender, careless driving and conspiracy to commit affray. 

Barry Kayley has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit affray and threatening another with an offensive weapon.

Judge Christopher Parker KC ordered a pre-sentence report for all three of them. 

He warned the teenager: "Make sure that you absolutely keep the interview appointments made for you. 

"They are more important than anything else at the moment for you. Do not break the conditions. 

"You will know that a sentence of detention is bound to follow. You can make your position a very great deal worse if you break any of these conditions."

The 16-year-old has been released on bail with conditions.

Prosecuting, Charles Gabb previously told the court that Mr Glasspool had suffered a number of blows with the weapon which narrowly missed his throat at one point.

He had gone to the area following a dispute before the teenager showed up in a Ford car. 

The 16-year-old claimed he had seen Ben Glasspool throw away a crowbar and had brought the sword because he "just thought it would scare them off a bit."

His barrister, Barry McElduff, told the court his client is "under no illusion" as to what will happen at sentencing.