Leah Campbell-Knechtel, 28, was discovered hiding under a mattress in a Muswell Hill address two days after she lured a 66-year-old man into a violent ambush in Islington. She and her accomplice, Jawad Naser, 47, were both sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Friday, August 14, for grievous bodily harm.
Attack Over Money Dispute
Officers were called to a flat in Islington just after 7pm on January 18, 2026, where Naser launched the attack over a money dispute. The victim had given Campbell-Knechtel thousands of pounds during an apparent relationship, according to the Metropolitan Police. On the day of the stabbing, he had also given her cash, and when he demanded the money back, an argument broke out.
When Campbell-Knechtel returned to the flat to "make peace," she allowed Naser to enter and passed him a kitchen knife to attack the victim. The man was left with life-threatening injuries that required emergency surgery.
Arrest and Evidence
Naser was found just four hours after the attack, and bloodstained trainers were recovered at his home, which formed part of the evidence at trial. Body-worn footage released following the convictions shows officers armed with Tasers entering a Muswell Hill address on January 20, two days after the attack, where they found Campbell-Knechtel hiding underneath a mattress in one of the bedrooms.
Detective Chief Inspector Gemma Alger, of the Met's Central North Criminal Investigation Department, said: "Campbell-Knechtel thought she could dodge justice by hiding under a bed, but our officers were right on her trail."
Sentences and Court Outcome
Alger added: "This was a savage knife attack by Naser that left the victim with life-changing injuries. Less than 48 hours after the attack, officers had pieced together the evidence, tracked down the suspects, and put them in custody. Now they're exactly where they belong – behind bars."
"Campbell-Knechtel may not have wielded the knife herself, but she lured the victim into a false sense of security and made the attack possible. The sentences recognise that her role was every bit as serious."
Naser, of Cambridge Gardens, Muswell Hill, and Campbell-Knechtel, of no fixed abode, were found not guilty of attempted murder, but guilty of grievous bodily harm by a jury after trial. Both were sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Friday, August 14.
