Gang of four locked up after stabbing and laying into teen passenger on a train

Four young men have been sentenced to a total of more than seven years at young offender institutes after they attacked a teenager on board a train.

The victim, a 19-year-old, was stabbed in the thigh and managed to crawl away from his attackers before collapsing on to a seat, where members of the public rushed to his aid.

Rowan Jones, 21, of Maud Chadburn Place, Lambeth, Kumarl Best, 19, of Hunter Road, Thorton Heath, Jahvarn Warren, 19, of Castillon Road, Lewisham and Rahim Al-Kamara, 21, of Hatfield Close, Lewisham were sentenced on Monday at Inner London Crown Court.

Jones pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, affray and possession of a weapon in private and received a 21-month sentence.

Best pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. He was sentenced to 31 months.

Warren admitted causing grievous bodily harm and affray and received an 18-month sentence. Al-Kamara pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to 17 months.

The court heard how, on Tuesday, November 21 last year, at around 7.30pm, the four boarded a Southeastern train at Grove Park Railway Station travelling towards St John’s Railway Station.

At the next stop, Hither Green railway station, the victim boarded and shortly afterwards was confronted by the four.

Warren and Jones grabbed the victim’s coat and slapped him in the face while Best produced a large knife and stabbed him multiple times.

Once the victim  was on the floor the group then continued their attack, kicking and punching him while Jones filmed the assault on his phone.

When the four retreated to their seats, the victim managed to escape the gang, hobbling into the next carriage before collapsing onto a seat, holding his leg.

The group ran off the train at St John’s while the victim limped off the train and was attended to by members of the public and the ambulance service.

He was taken to hospital where he was treated for a large stab wound to his thigh, a smaller wound to his thigh and several defensive wounds to his hands.

All four were identified from CCTV and mobile phone data and were arrested at their home addresses in a co-ordinated raid.

A sword with a 17ins blade was found at Best’s home still stained with the blood of the victim.

Al-Kamara was arrested separately at home two days later.

Investigating officer DC Danny Nelson said: “This was a brutal and senseless attack and the victim was fortunate not to sustain further injuries.

“While none of the four revealed the reason for their actions, the frenzied nature of their onslaught leaves no doubt that their intention was to cause serious injury.

“There is absolutely no reason to carry a deadly weapon like this in public, unless they mean to endanger life.”

Pictured top (left to right): Rowan Jones, Kumarl Best and Jahvarn Warren (Pictures: BTP)