A young tenant has been handed a 21-year prison sentence for attempting to kill his landlord during  a violent attack.

24-year-old Ibrahim Ahmed (main image, inset) of Field Way, Croydon, south London, was earlier found guilty of attempted murder after a seven-day trial.

Unprovoked attack

The landlord, a man in his 40s, suffered life-threatening injuries after a vicious knife attack in February at the hands of Ahmed near his home.

The court heard that the victim returned home from work and Ahmed brutally stabbed him with a knife on his doorstep, in an unprovoked attack, before fleeing from the scene.

The victim was found by members of the public lying in the road near his home in Croydon, and they performed first aid before the emergency services arrived. One stab wound was so severe it caused his lung to collapse.

Ahmed was sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment and five years on licence, with a minimum of 14 years.

Without their timely and expert care, the victim could have certainly lost his life.”

Detective Constable Simona Stankute, who led the investigation, said: “We hope today’s sentence will provide a sense of justice to the victim, who has shown exceptional bravery throughout this investigation.”

And Detective Inspector Danielle Power, the senior investigator in the case, said: “I’d also like to echo the sentiments by my colleague about the residents who provided first aid to the victim, and also offer my thanks to our colleagues in the London Ambulance Service.

“Without their timely and expert care, the victim could have certainly lost his life.”