An 18-year-old with a history of muggings dating back to his early teens is facing jail after being found guilty of murdering a builder outside a shopping centre in Lee.

Alex Scott, 26, was stabbed twice during a fight outside the Leegate Centre by two youths who had met that night at Lee High Road's Knowland House, a hostel for vulnerable youngsters run by the St Christopher's Fellowship charity.

The Old Bailey heard Mr Scott, who had spent the day drinking with friends, argued with Kai Steele and Dillon Beckford after one of them asked for a cigarette on August 10 last year at around 9.30pm.

The court was told Mr Scott followed them into an alleyway was stabbed twice in the chest by Steele and collapsed on the pavement some 20 seconds after he threw the first punch.

Prosecutor Simon Denison said: "His death was as sudden as it was violent and wholly unnecessary.

"Another life taken away in an instant by the use of a knife that was taken on to the streets for no reason."

Today, ex-Knowland House resident Kai Steele, of Lamport Close, Woolwich, was convicted of the murder.

Steele was just 17 at the time of the fatal attack which happened after an argument erupted outside an off-licence when one of the youths asked for a cigarette.

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Prosecutor Simon Denison said Steele had a series of past convictions for violent crimes, including muggings, dating back to when he was aged 12 or 13 years old.

He also read an impact statement from Mr Scott's mother Rachel Van Dyke who wrote: "His death was totally unnecessary and I know nothing is ever going to bring Alex back. The only thing I can hope for now is the person responsible gets their just desserts.

"Nothing can ever replace Alex. He was funny, outgoing, he had a good heart and would do anything for anybody."

Adjourning sentencing until tomorrow, the judge remarked to the jury it can be depressing to see what happens in cases when someone - usually a teenager - leaves home with a knife in their pocket and then "gets into a scrap".

Mr Beckford, 18, of Knowland House, was acquitted of murder during the trial on the direction of the trial judge Timothy Pontius.

A spokesman for Knowland House said: "Our thoughts are with the victim of this tragic incident and those close to him. 

"Knowland House is supported accommodation which aims to help young people, particularly those leaving care, towards independence. 

"It provides support for essential life skills, such as cooking and budgeting, and help to get into education, training and employment.

"We worked closely with Dylan Beckford and Kai Steele and are all deeply shocked by what has happened."