A "career criminal" has been jailed after holding a knife to the throat of his friend and robbing him. 

Surinder Singh, 42, of Reighton Road, Clapton, was with his 33-year-old victim on November 10, last year, in Manse Road, Stoke Newington.

As the victim began leaving, Singh got out a Stanley knife and held the blade to the victim’s throat demanding money.

Believing Singh would kill him, he handed over £80 in cash before running away.

He then called the police and Singh was arrested.

Singh was found guilty of robbery and possession of a bladed article at Wood Green Court on Friday and sentenced to six years in prison.

The court heard Singh is a heroin and alcohol addict, with the judge calling it a "despicable" crime as the victim "trusted" and saw Singh as his "friend".

The Judge said there was “no alternative” but jail given his history of committing violence.

Det Insp Paul Ridley, of Hackney Police, said: “Singh is a career criminal who uses extreme violence for relatively little reward to fuel his drug addiction.

“The terrified victim genuinely believed that he would be killed by the knife wielding attacker if he did not hand over cash. Singh has shown no remorse at any time during the proceedings.

“The sentence imposed by the judge reflects the gravity of the offence and that carrying and using knifes in the streets of London will not be tolerated and lead to severe punishment.”