Gang jailed after knife attack
2:57pm Tuesday 15th July 2008
A GANG of six youths have been put behind bars for a knife attack which left a student fighting for his life.
Faheem Javaid, aged 20, was stabbed four times in the back, struck with a rock, punched, kicked and hit with a motorcycle helmet during the attack on June 25 last year.
The gang, aged from 14 to 19 at the time of the attack, can be named after Judge Giles Forrester lifted restrictions which would have prevented some of them from being identified.
Knife-wielder Abdul Yassin-Noor, aged 20, was described as the leader in the attack near McDonald's in Well Hall Road, Eltham.
He was convicted of attempted murder at the Old Bailey last month.
Five others were convicted of wounding with intent.
The attack followed Mr Javaid's 14-year-old brother being robbed on a bus earlier that day.
When Mr Javaid found out he confronted the yobs responsible and punched one of them in the face.
Other youths, who the judge said were either members of or linked to the Ferrier Boys gang, then came out of McDonald's and surrounded Mr Javaid.
Judge Forrester said they then "set about him in the most dreadful way."
The judge explained that each of the six knew Yassin-Noor had a knife, realised he might use it and that this state of mind would have led to a murder charge if Mr Javaid had died.
Judge Forrester said: "On arrival at hospital his body was struggling to survive life-threatening injuries."
He added: "This was needless and extremely serious violence in which a knife was carried and used and in which a young man very nearly lost his life. Each of you bears a responsibility for that."
Sentencing them at the Old Bailey yesterday (July 14), he said: 'Gang membership and knife culture is prevalent.
"The public are right to be concerned about events such as these and increasingly young people are involved both as victims and defendants. Sentences to deter are necessary."
The events followed another incident on April 24 last year in Kidbrooke when Mr Javaid's other brother was also robbed and attacked.
Witnesses had seen between seven and 10 youths taking part in that attack and said a knife was also produced.
- Yassin-Noor, of Rochester Way, Eltham, was given a 15-year sentence for attempted murder.
Simba Chiuture, aged 17, of Wricklemarsh Road, Kidbrooke, was given a total of eight years for robbery and wounding with intent in the June incident and violent disorder in the April robbery.
Alex Ojerinola, aged 17, of Ebdon Way, Kidbrooke, was given a total of seven years for robbery and wounding Mr Javaid with intent.
Trevon Bert, aged 15, of Brooklands Park, Kidbrooke, got six years for robbery and wounding with intent.
Younatan Frezgi, aged 15, of Ryan Close, Kidbrooke, was given five years for wounding with intent.
Neil Williamson, aged 17, of Langbrook Road, Kidbrooke, got five years for wounding with intent.
A 16-year-old, who cannot be named, was given a 12-month detention and training order for violent disorder in the April incident.
Bert, Ojerniola, Frezgi and Williamson were cleared of the April offence during the trial.
All the charges had been denied.