Croydon 'zombie knife' sentence overturned

A man who tried to smash a car window with a "zombie knife" has been jailed after appeal judges overturned his "lenient" sentence.

Joshua Gardner, 18, who was filmed using the weapon in a Croydon street, admitted three charges when he appeared at the Old Bailey in November.

He received a two-year suspended sentence, which the attorney general referred to the Court of Appeal.

Gardner has now been jailed for three and a half years.

Lord Justice Leveson said the previous sentence was unduly lenient.

"There can never be any excuse for carrying a weapon of the type this offender carried," he said.

Gardner gave a "no comment" interview following his arrest

On 30 May, Gardner, from Thornton Heath, was on a bicycle when he pulled up alongside a car with a 19-year-old man inside.

The man tried to drive off and almost made contact with Gardner's bike, which led to him to attack the car and smash the passenger window with the large knife.

In November, he was found guilty of attempting to cause GBH with intent. He had previously admitted affray and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

Judge Anuja Dhir QC sentenced him to two years in prison for the GBH offence to run concurrently with 12 months in jail for the knife and affray offences, suspended for two years.

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The sentence drew criticism from mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Met Police Supt Roy Smith, who said it was "not a deterrent".

Following the latest hearing, Mr Khan said: "I'm pleased the Court of Appeal has concluded that his sentence was unduly lenient and have sent him to prison."