'Potential killer' jailed for six years

A 17-YEAR-OLD youth who terrorised south London with four "vicious" muggings in three weeks was today jailed for six years.

Police said the Brixton teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was motivated by a desire to get money to buy designer clothes and expensive trainers to impress his friends.

He left one man scarred for life and slashed a female victim with a seveninch kitchen knife. Police said the stocky youth was a "potential murderer" and extremely dangerous.

He came to this country from Jamaica last year but, in a three- week crime spree in June, mugged four people. He will be deported as soon as he finishes his sentence.

Today, he was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court to six years for GBH, five years for robbing his male victim, three years for two other robberies and four years for another mugging, all to run concurrently.

Sentencing, Judge Stephen Stone QC said: "These are all violent and serious offences and have as their theme that you were preying on people walking home late at night. They were particularly vicious and have had an enduring impact on their victims and the way they live their lives."

The court heard how, on 23 June, the youth attacked a man walking home late at night in Stockwell, slashing his throat with a seven- inch kitchen knife and cutting the victim's hands as the terrified victim tried to defend himself.

The man was left with life-threatening neck injuries and doctors said the wounds were two centimetres from vital arteries. He is now scarred for life.

Minutes earlier, the teenager had pinned a terrified woman against a wall of a nearby estate and had stolen her handbag.

A day later he leapt on a lone woman as she walked home in Stockwell and slashed her chest with the kitchen knife. The woman was saved by her thick cardigan and was not injured.

On 1 June the youth had pushed another woman to the ground before running off with her handbag. He was arrested on 24 June.

Officers who searched his home found scores of stolen credit cards, mobile phones and other property.

Dc Ed Allen, of Lambeth Robbery Squad, said: "Without doubt he is an extremely dangerous person. He could have been a potential murderer with the attack on the man and the women were left absolutely terrified."

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