Teenager jailed after stabbing a man in the heart in Lewisham

A teenager has been found guilty of grievous bodily harm after he stabbed a man twice in a fast food restaurant.

Joshua Erorh, 18, of Courtney Road, Grays was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and not guilty of attempted murder following a knife attack on a 21-year-old man mistakenly believed to be from a rival gang.

The stabbing took place just before midnight on March 14 outside a fast food restaurant in New Cross Road in Lewisham

The jury was also told that Erorh posted a Drill music video boasting about the attack and making references to the food order the victim made minutes before he was stabbed.

Erorh – who was armed with a knife that was concealed with a white plastic bag over his hand – confronted the victim before stabbing him twice in the chest, with one of the blows landing to the heart.

When the victim’s brother left the restaurant and intervened in the fight, Erorh ran off in the direction of Goodwood Road carrying the knife with him and leaving behind a blue push bike that he had arrived to the scene of the incident on.

Unaware of how severe his injuries were, the victim and his brother proceeded to run after Erorh. A short while into the chase, the victim collapsed nearby and his brother decided to drive him directly to hospital.

Police officers on patrol in the area stopped the car on Friendly Street in Deptford and saw the victim suffering from stab wounds before providing first aid.

When paramedics arrived, emergency open heart surgery was performed on the victim at the side of the road before he was taken to hospital for further treatment.

The victim is still in a life-threatening condition, eight months after the attack.

After CCTV and mobile phone analysis, police were able to link Erorh to the scene of the stabbing. He will be sentenced on February 8 at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Detective Constable Jamie Layton, the investigating officer from South East area’s CID, said: “This was a shocking act of violence that could have cost a man’s life, and my team and I were committed to bringing Erorh to justice.

“I want to praise the police officers that stopped the car and provided the victim with initial first aid and CPR, while they waited for emergency health workers to arrive on the scene. Had it not been for the brilliant efforts of the medics, the victim may have died from his injuries. However, his life and his family’s life has now been changed forever due to this brutal act of violence and he continues to fight for his life.

“I hope that the conviction of Erorh, and the sentence that will follow, will send out a clear message to those all too willing to engage in violence that it will simply not be tolerated. No good can ever come from carrying a knife.

“Bearing down on violence in London is a top priority for the Met and we will continue to apprehend those responsible for causing misery and fear in our communities.”