A FORMER Crawley striker has been found guilty of stabbing a man in the back.

Ibrahim Meite, 25, who joined Crawley on loan in 2017 from Cardiff City, was accused of stabbing Rio Amos, 24, in Putney, south London, on the morning of September 12, 2019.

During a trial at Kingston Crown Court, Prosecutor Max Hardy said it was “unlikely this was a chance passing" when Meite encountered Amos after driving his white Mercedes to a “quiet residential street” with Leon Hughes, 33, who was in the front passenger seat.

He told the court that CCTV footage showed the pair getting out of the car and engaging in conversation with Amos, “moving from side to side” before he “sidles around his back”.

Mr Hardy said Meite stabbed Amos in the back, “catching him unawares” while his “attention was split between the two men”.

Amos was said to have produced a larger blade and stabbed Meite multiple times after he had fallen over while running from the scene, the court heard.

Meite told the court he never had a knife and only intended to punch Amos “to wind him”.

The footballer added he had come across Amos by chance when driving with Hughes and wanted to “clear the air” after a “dispute” involving a girl at a nightclub which ended with "pushing and shoving".

The pair were taken to St George’s Hospital in London and both recovered.

On Wednesday, February 16 the jury found Meite guilty of wounding with intent, an alternative charge of unlawful wounding and possession of a knife.

After several days of deliberations, the jury found Meite, of Roehampton, south-west London, guilty of wounding with intent, an alternative charge of unlawful wounding and possession of a knife.

The Argus: Meite leaving Brighton Magistrates' Court for a difference offence in 2018Meite leaving Brighton Magistrates' Court for a difference offence in 2018

Amos, of Wandsworth, south-west London, was found not guilty of wounding with intent and a verdict was not reached on unlawful wounding, leading to the jury being discharged.

Hughes, of Merton, south-west London, who was accused of helping the footballer carry out an attack, was found guilty of unlawful wounding and not guilty of wounding with intent, possession of a knife and intending to pervert the course of justice.

A mention hearing is due to take place tomorrow. Meite and Hughes will be sentenced at a later date.

Meite has previously been banned from driving for 17 months after he was caught on New Year's Eve in 2017 drunk behind the wheel in Hove.

He was taken to Brighton custody centre and was found to have 62 mg per 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 mg.

Meite joined Crawley permanently in February 2019 from Cardiff City after being released from his parent club.

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