Two men have been found guilty of murdering Carl Eland when they deliberately smashed into him with a car when he was riding a bike.

Brandon Ali and Joey Matthews were also found guilty of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent when they also injured Mr Eland's girlfriend as they cycled through Middlesbrough last summer.

The father-of-four died four days after he knocked of his bike while cycling with his girlfriend sitting on the handlebars. She suffered minor injuries.

Shocking CCTV footage showed their Vauxhall Insignia mount the kerb before hitting them at speed from behind and driving away from the scene.

The court heard how they had bought the car just two days before they rammed it into Mr Eland.

One eyewitness had told the jury at Teesside Crown Court how the car made no attempt to avoid hitting the two people on the bike.

The court heard how a simmering drug turf war between two rival gangs had descended into violence culminating in the murder of Mr Eland in August last year.

Matthew was recorded telling his mother he was ‘guilty’ in a phone call recorded while he was on remand in Durham prison.

Read more: Mother's devastating words following brutal murder of dad-of-four

The transcript of the heated conversation was read out to jurors.

He said: “I’m looking at 25 years you daft cow.”

His mother replied: “You’re not though are you because you’re not guilty, are you?” Matthews retorted: “Yeah, I f****** am though, aren’t I.”

Mr Eland died after suffering fatal injuries when he was knocked from a bike in the Homerton Road and Gribdale Road area of Middlesbrough on August 21, 2021.

The pair declined the opportunity to give evidence in their defence before their barristers gave their closing speeches as the trial at Teesside Crown Court neared a conclusion.

Ian Maughan, who has since died of a suspected drug overdose, initially took responsibility for the crash before retracting his statement and identifying Matthews and Ali as the two people in the Vauxhall Insignia.

During police interview, Mr Maughan said the pair plied him with crack cocaine before persuading him to call police and say he was the driver of the car that was involved in the fatal collision that killed Carl Eland.

Jurors took four hours to reach their verdict at the end of the two-week trial.

Judge Paul Watson QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, thanked the jury for their hard work during the trial and adjourned the case for sentencing on Friday, August 26.

Ali, of Dalwood Court, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, and Matthews, of Newcomen Green, Middlesbrough, both 21, were remanded in custody.