NEIL ACOURT, 43

IN 2002, Acourt, the leader of the gang, was jailed alongside Dobson after driving at off-duty police officer Gareth Reid and shouting n ***** at him.

He has also been implicated in other violent attacks, including the stabbing of teenager Stacey Benefield just weeks before Stephen was murdered, and the knifing of an Asian fast food worker the same year.

In 2001, he was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon, a baton. He claimed he needed it for protection. He was captured on the police surveillance film, saying: “I think every n ***** should be chopped up and left with stumps.”