The mum of paralysed Thusha Kamaleswaran has spoken of the “unbearable” pain of the shooting and the impact it has had on her family.

Three men were yesterday found guilty of the gang-related shooting, which has left five-year-old Thusha, of Tomswood Hill, Hainault, permanently in a wheelchair.

Nathaniel Grant, Kazeem Kolawole and Anthony McCalla were convicted by a jury at the Old Bailey of causing grievous bodily harm to Thusha, of Tomswood Hill.

In an impact statement read out in court, Thusha’s mum Sharmila Kamaleswaran described the shock of seeing her daughter on a hospital bed, saying it “took my heart away”.

The statement continued: “She says the impact of this incident remains unbearable to the family.

“She describes how Thusha was before, always happy and smiling. A child hopping around like a rabbit now paralysed.”

Mrs Kamaleswaran said her daughter’s dreams of becoming a singer and dancer had been shattered.

Speaking outside court, Det Supt Gordon Allison read a statement on behalf of Thusha’s parents that said: “We would like to express our gratitude to the emergency services for their prompt actions after Thusha was shot.

“In particular, we must thank the paramedics and doctors who operated twice to save Thusha’s life, to the Metropolitan Police Service for their support throughout the investigation and subsequent trial, and to all the staff and particularly the physiotherapists at King’s College and Stoke Mandeville hospitals.

“We are very happy justice has been done.”

Thusha was shot in March of last year inside Stockwell Food and Wine shop.