A Peckham man has avoided jail time for now despite lunging at a doctor with a knife in an attempted robbery.
Enver Francis, 18 (28.12.02), of Clifton Crescent, Peckham was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday (December 20) to 24 months in prison, suspended for two years, for attempted robbery, six months suspended for two years for possession of an offensive weapon, and 24 months suspended for two years for possession of counterfeit currency with intent.
The three sentences will run at the same time. He was also told to pay the victim £156 in compensation.
Francis pleaded guilty to the three crimes on May 27 this year.
It came after he contacted the victim, an NHS doctor in his 20s, when the doctor posted a Playstation 5 games console for sale on an online marketplace.
They agreed to meet at the Whittington Hospital in Archway, north London. Francis was asked to wait in a communal area while the victim fetched the games console.
The doctor kept the Playstation behind a door protected with an electric key fob so he could check the money before handing it over.
When asked to show the money, Francis grabbed for the doctor’s lanyard, punched him in the ribs, pulled out a hunting knife and lunged at the victim’s chest.
Luckily, the doctor managed to dodge out of the way of the knife attack. A woman arrived and the doctor asked her to call security.
Francis ran away, chased by security, who found his hunting knife. He was caught on CCTV and police from the local robbery squad arrested him within days at home. Officers also found more than £1,000 in fake currency during a search.
Detective Constable Ishmael Donegan, from Central North Basic Command Unit, said: “Francis travelled across London armed with a hunting knife after contacting the victim through a online buying and selling website. He showed no regard for the victim’s safety who could’ve sustained serious injury.
“I ask that sellers and buyers on marketplace websites be extra cautious when meeting individuals in person.
“The swift investigation conducted by Central North’s Robbery Squad and the Violence Suppression Unit ensured Francis was identified and arrested mere days after the incident. I would also like to praise the security guards who pursued Francis not knowing that he was armed with a knife.
“Combating robbers and knife carriers is a priority for The Met and we will continue to pursue these individuals.”
Nice to see the criminal justice system doing absolutely nothing and allowing dangerous criminals back onto the streets …how can this non sentence be possible …he set out to stab a doctor . I expect next time he does it he will be given a free holiday …and he will do it again . Its bad enough on the streets of Southwark but now its even more dangerous. I hope the next victim sues the judge