A man who tried to strangle another with a bootlace and left him for dead has been jailed for 12 years.

Rani Eddab, 20, of Old Road East, Gravesend, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court.

Eddab, who was originally charged with attempted murder, first put his forearm around his victim's neck and applied pressure until he lost consciousness.

He then used a bootlace to try to strangle him, breaking his hyoid bone - a U-shaped bone in the neck which supports the tongue.

When the man, who has not been named, regained consciousness Eddab had disappeared. The window of his dining room was smashed and his laptop was missing.

"The incident has had a considerable impact on the victim, who understandably was left shocked and distressed" - Det Con Darren Brownrigg

The two men had met at Marble Arch station at about 11.30pm on October 31 last year. They spoke before Eddab was invited back to the man's home in central London.

Eddab was traced by police after CCTV images of him were released and two officers recognised him.

However, after his arrest he lied by claiming he was a juvenile and a child refugee from Syria. He also said he acted in self-defence.

As well as attempted murder, Eddab was charged with an unrelated offence of robbery.

Police believe he may have committed further crimes and are urging potential victims to contact them.

Investigating officer Det Con Darren Brownrigg said: "Eddab did not provide any credible explanation about his actions that night, but I am confident his intentions from the outset were to commit a criminal offence.

"The incident has had a considerable impact on the victim, who understandably was left shocked and distressed.

"Eddab lied repeatedly throughout his police interview, providing various false details about himself and his background, and with this in mind I have to consider the possibility that he may have committed other offences.

"I urge anyone with information to contact the police, where they will be treated with the utmost sensitivity."