Christopher Foster murder Knifeman Aytach Lisani jailed

Christopher Foster died in hospital shortly after he was stabbed in the back

A knifeman who killed the wrong man in a revenge attack has been jailed for life.

Aytach Lisani, 33, pleaded guilty to murdering Christopher Foster, 34, by stabbing him in the back outside a pub in Borough, south London.

Lisani, from south-east London, was ordered to serve a minimum of 23 years.

During the trial, three men admitted conspiracy to cause GBH after murder charges against them were dropped. They were also jailed at the Old Bailey.

Rocky Djelal, 34, of Layard Road, Bermondsey, was jailed for six years, Billy Dove, 30, of Setchell Way, Southwark, for six and a half years and Ali Lisani, 38, of Nevendon Road, Basildon, for seven and a half years.

Lisani, of Tranton Road, Bermondsey, attacked the father of one, who worked as a City porter, on 29 November last year.

He was targeted by a group of hooded men with bats and a knife as he enjoyed a last drink outside St Christopher's Inn in Borough High Street, the trial heard.

After he was stabbed, he staggered inside the pub and collapsed. He died later in hospital.

The gang had wrongly believed he was a man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, whom they blamed for an attack on the cousin of the murderer.

During sentencing, the judge said the revenge attack was not "spur of the moment" and it was intended to take place in a public place where many people were at the time.

Following the convictions, Mr Foster's mother Jean described him as "a good son, devoted dad and loyal friend".

Ricky Huggins, 29, of Bermondsey, and Mohmmed Aalamani, 28, of Arden Crescent, east London, were cleared of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.