Deliveroo driver stabbed in chest in east London Costa shop

The horror attack took place at the chain's Mile End Road branch in east London on April 2 last year.  

Inner London Crown Court heard the Deliveroo driver had attempted to detain bike thief Mohammed Shohid inside the coffee shop until police arrived. 

But 19-year-old Shohid pulled a huge knife from his trousers and stabbed the delivery worker in the chest in front of terrified customers. 

The victim survived after weeks in intensive care after the knife penetrated a lung, bowel and kidney. 

Before the stabbing the victim was very active and was working as a Deliveroo rider part-time while studying to become a plumber. 

He has since had to drop out of college and requires assistance with many basic tasks. 

Prosecutor Roger Smart read out a statement from the victim which said: “The incident has left me physically, mentally and emotionally shattered. Simple tasks have become insurmountable challenges. 

“I don’t trust any new people. I’m always scared they might attack me with a knife."

A jury found Shohid, of Rainhill Way, Bow, not guilty of attempted murder but he had pleaded guilty to wounding with intent. 

In his evidence to the jury Shohid had said he did not think stabbing the driver would cause him significant harm. 

Mohammed Shohid (Image: Met Police)

Shohid appeared at Inner London Crown Court for sentencing via a video link from HMP Thameside on February 19, 2024. 

His barrister said Shohid had lived in a tiny flat in Tower Hamlets and shared one bedroom with his parents and four siblings. 

“It is no surprise therefore, that he spent his time on the streets and fell into a life of largely minor crime – smoking cannabis, stealing bikes, making money however he could,” she said. 

She said Shohid has a very low IQ and the decision to stab the Deliveroo driver was a result of his poor thinking skills and panicked decision making. 

As well as wounding with intent, Shohid was sentenced for possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply after police found £4,000 worth of drugs under his mattress in January 2022. 

Shohid claims that a man he did not know told him to keep hold of the package for him and threatened to “shoot up his house” if he refused. 

Sentencing Shohid, Judge Benedict Kelleher said: “It is clear that he [the Deliveroo driver] was not presenting you with any significant threat of violence, what he did present to you was the risk of being apprehended, caught for what you had been involved in. 

“As he took steps to take hold of you, you produced a very large knife. You stuck at him at least once, possibly more than once, and the knife entered his body and caused a very deep wound damaging his lungs, his bowels and his kidneys. He was also struck to the head, possibly as he fell. 

“You then ran away and disposed of the knife you used. You were identified relatively quickly and arrested shortly afterwards. 

“This was a truly shocking incident for anyone to witness. Thankfully there were no children there but customers saw what happened and had to assist with the terrible consequences.” 

Judge Kelleher sentenced Shohid to seven-and-a-half years in prison with an additional four years on licence because of the danger he poses to the public.