A gang of thugs who tried to murder a shopkeeper in a sickening Christmas Eve attack were described as a “pack of wild animals” by a judge yesterday.

Darren Timothy, 24, and two boys aged 14 and 16 admitted the attempted murder of Atiq Ur-Rehman, who was stabbed and beaten when the yobs raided his shop for booze last December.

A fourth attacker, Kieran Ruddy, 20, admitting assaulting the 40-year-old dad-of-one to his injury in the horror attack in Cumbernauld – captured in these exclusive images from Glenhove Store’s CCTV system.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how the gang tried to conceal their faces when they entered the shop at 7.48pm.

Timothy was armed with a knife and a baseball bat, while the 16-year-old had a blade.

The victim tried to pull down the hood of Ruddy, who pleaded guilty to robbing Atiq and punching and kicking him on the head and body.

(Image: Daily Record)

Timothy and the two teenagers – who cannot be named because they are under 18 – all admitted attempting to murder Atiq. They struck him on the head and body with a knife, knelt on him and held him down while striking him with bottles and a crate.

They also stamped on the dad’s body, to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger to life – leaving his shop strewn with smashed bottles and stock.

Prosecutor Angela Gray said the 16-year-old could be seen striking Atiq with a knife and a broken bottle in the footage, while Timothy lashes out with a knife and baseball bat.

Timothy and the 14-year-old hit their victim over the head with glass bottles. Ruddy can be seen jumping the counter to grab alcohol before leaving.

The court heard he had just been released on bail that day.

The brutal attack lasts several minutes with brave Atiq fighting off the gang to defend himself and his store.

When his attackers finally fled, the victim managed to trigger a panic alarm before being helped by a customer who came across the scene.

(Image: Daily Record)

Another witness came across the thugs outside and heard one ask, “Who stabbed him?”, to which another of the hooded gang replied, “Me.”

The victim’s father-in-law Ali Mubarak previously told the Record how the attack lasted up to 15 minutes as the dad tried to fight the thugs off.

Atiq suffered three stab wounds near his kidneys as well as a head wound and a fractured shoulder. He was in hospital for five days and needed a blood transfusion.

Gray said: “The complainer will be permanently scarred.”

The case against a 15-year-old boy was deserted yesterday and another unknown accomplice seen in the video is still being sought by police.

Grey added: “The doctor treating Mr Rehman said if it were not for the medical treatment received, he could have died as a consequence of his injuries.”

The attackers will be sentenced next month.

Lord Mulholland remanded all four in custody and told them: “What I have just watched is outrageous,

thuggish conduct from you all.

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“You behaved like a pack of wild animals in your action towards this man who is doing nothing but serving the community on Christmas Eve.

“What you have subjected him to is nothing short of a disgrace.”