Teenager jailed for robbery that left victim stabbed three times (From Harrow Times)

Teenager jailed for South Harrow robbery that left victim stabbed three times

5:07pm Friday 31st August 2012 in News By David Hardiman, Reporter

A teenage robber whose victim was stabbed three times during a struggle over a rucksack in South Harrow has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Herve Mpanzu, 19, of Northolt Road, attacked the 26-year-old man from behind and held a knifepoint to his throat as he walked home from work along Torrington Drive on December 19 last year.

After the victim refused to hand over his bag, he was stabbed in the leg, buttock and back during the ensuing struggle, before Mpanzu broke the knife in half, dropped his mobile phone and fled.

Police officers recovered the knife handle in a search carried out after the attack, and when blood found on it matched Mpanzu’s, he was arrested and charged with robbery.

At Harrow Crown Court this afternoon, he was found guilty and sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison, a sentence the investigating officer, PC Ali Khan, said was a “strong message”.

He added: “This was an unprovoked attack on an innocent man who was unknown to Mpanzu and the severity of this sentence reflects the crime. This is an excellent result for the victim.”