A robber befriended a man, offered him work then stabbed him and stole his phone, a court heard.

Habibullah Faqeerz, of Harmer Street, Gravesend, was today sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court following a three-day trial.

The 29-year-old denied robbery but was found guilty by a jury.

They had heard how Faqeerz struck up a conversation with the stranger and offered him a job but when he turned up, attacked him instead.

Police were called to Clarence Place, Gravesend, on June 9 after someone was heard shouting for help at around 3.15pm.

They found a man in his 40s with a small stab wound just below his armpit. A mobile phone, which belonged to Faqeerz, was also found nearby.

The victim told officers he had befriended Faqeerz the previous day at Dartford railway station.

When they met, the victim was initially asked for cigarette. The pair went on to chat about employment during a train ride to Gravesend, and Faqeerz had promised the victim work.

The victim agreed to meet Faqeerz at Gravesend station the following afternoon with some money and identity documents.

Upon meeting for the second time, Faqeerz walked the victim behind a building in Clarence Place before suddenly grabbing him. During a struggle, the victim was stabbed under the armpit and robbed of his mobile phone.

Investigators were able to gather CCTV which captured Faqeerz meeting the victim and, following work to identify him, he was detained five days later.

The victim picked him out at an identity parade and Faqeerz has been held on remand since. Today he was jailed for four years.

DC Rebecca Veares, the investigating officer for the case, said: "Faqeerz is a clear and obvious threat to public safety and I am pleased that he is behind bars and justice has been secured for the victim.

"Faqeerz’s willingness to use serious violence to attempt to steal an item of relatively low value shows him to be little more than a callous thief with little regard for anyone else’s wellbeing.

"There can be no tolerance for such offending and we will always pursue every reasonable line of inquiry to ensure offenders like Faqeerz are removed from the streets."

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