Man admits attempted murder of Saudi visitor he stabbed during robbery in London's Mayfair

A 58-year-old man from north-west London has admitted trying to kill a Saudi visitor, whom he stabbed in Berkeley Square during a failed robbery in September.

Ivan Stringer entered his plea at Southwark Crown Court and is due to be sentenced on 18 December. He had already confessed to three further offences: wounding with intent, trying to rob the victim and carrying a knife. The judge, Christopher Hehir, called the offence serious and said all sentencing options remained open. He added that he was weighing a life term and that any sentence would be long.

The attack took place on the evening of 3 September as the victim, a visitor from Saudi Arabia aged in his 40s, was walking through Berkeley Square. The Metropolitan Police, who were called at 9.38pm, said at the time they believed he had been targeted for his backpack. It held a luxury watch, though the watch was not on show. Nothing was taken.

The victim received initial treatment on the spot before being moved to hospital; his injuries were not life-threatening. The court heard that he has since returned home to Saudi Arabia. Stringer was detained in the square and also needed hospital treatment for minor injuries. At an earlier hearing, his barrister, Nadia-Jade Semlali, said he had been jobless and on benefits after using up savings from years of work, and had reached a low point when he offended.

After the stabbing, the Saudi embassy called for the investigation to be concluded quickly and for the attacker to be held accountable under the law. It urged its citizens in London to stay alert, guard their belongings and avoid carrying valuables in public. Last year a Saudi student was stabbed to death outside his accommodation in Cambridge, and a construction worker was jailed for life for his murder in June.

In recent years, street crime, particularly the theft of phones and watches, has hurt the reputation of London as a safe city in which to work and visit. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has challenged that perception by publishing figures indicating that murders in London occur at lower rates than in many comparable cities abroad.

Source: The National, 30 October 2026