Croydon Knife Attacker Jailed After Brutal Gravesend Stabbing Over Phone Charger
A violent knife thug from Croydon has been locked up for 12 years after stabbing a man in Gravesend over a petty argument about a phone charger. Lemuel Lee’s vicious assault left the victim with life-threatening wounds to his heart and liver.
Stabbing Sparks from Charger Dispute
On 20 June 2019, Lee, 20, and accomplice Meshack Noel, 26, travelled from Croydon to Gravesend. They stayed at a flat in Gravesham Court where tensions soon boiled over. The following day, a woman accused Noel of nicking her phone charger.
Noel shoved her against a wall and grabbed her throat. When the victim tried to step in, Lee sprang from the sofa and plunged a large kitchen knife into him – twice. Both men then fled the scene, leaving the victim critically injured.
Busted by CCTV and Brash Intimidation
The victim was airlifted to hospital where life-saving surgery kept him alive. Kent and Essex Serious Crime detectives used CCTV to track down Lee and Noel at their Croydon address. Lee was charged with attempted murder and locked up on remand.
Noel was initially granted bail but landed back behind bars after threatening a key witness with a chilling note: “Snitches get stitches.”
Court Drama and Heavy Sentences
At Canterbury Crown Court, both denied the charges. Lee was acquitted of attempted murder but convicted of wounding with intent. Noel was found guilty of witness intimidation and trying to cover up the crime by ditching the murder weapon.
On 19 March 2020, Lee received a hefty 12-year sentence. Noel was handed six years, cementing the justice served for the shocking attack.
Detective Constable Angela Cann said: “This was a shocking and brutal assault that could have easily been fatal. Lee and Noel’s total disrespect for the law is clear – shedding light on the terrible violence and fear they caused.”
