A Gravesend man who strangled his victim with a bootlace before stealing their laptop has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars.

Rani Eddab, of Old Road East, was sentenced yesterday (November 30) at Blackfriars Crown Court after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm.

On the night of October 31 last year 20-year-old Eddab met his victim at Marble Arch station, before he was invited back to the man's home in central London.

Once there Eddab put his forearm around the victim's neck, squeezing until he lost consciousness.

He used a bootlace to strangle the victim, breaking his hyoid bone.

When the victim regained consciousness Eddab had fled, the window of his dining room was smashed and his laptop was missing.

Detectives circulated CCTV images of the suspect and Eddab was identified by two officers who had come across him previously.

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After being arrested for attempted murder and one count of robbery - relating to a seperate incident -Eddab lied about his age and claimed to be a child refugee from Syria.

Detective Constable Darren Brownrigg, the investigating officer, 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."