A man stabbed his rival seven times in a row over a drugs debt, a jury has decided.

Harry Harris carried out the brutal attack - before fleeing with his victim's phones and property.

Now a jury at Maidstone Crown Court has found Harris, of Chigwell, guilty of murder.

A jury heard how one of the key moments in the police investigation happened when a schoolboy came across an abandoned mobile phone at the scene of a road accident.

The youngster believed it belonged to one of the drivers involved in the crash, and handed it over to officers.

But when police forensically examined the mobile - it became a vital clue in the murder hunt.

The phone belonged to Jamie Webb, 44, who hours earlier had been found stabbed to death at his home in Hamerton Road, Northfleet.

Harris had pleaded not guilty to murder and to possessing a knife. But after deliberating for nine and a half hours the jury returned a guilty verdict of 11 -1.

Harris who remained impassive as the verdict was returned is now facing a life sentence. He will formerly be sentence on Friday when Judge Philip Statman will set the minimum time he will have to serve before being considered for parole - which will be in excess of 25 years.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan QC had told the jury: "On February 4 James Webb - known to his family as Jamie - was murdered in his own home by Harry Harris.

"Harris went to Mr Webb's home that day armed with a large knife and expecting a conflict.

"He took the largest of three knives that night which tells you a lot about his intentions and inflicted a multitude of injuries, including applying pressure to his neck and killing him."

She revealed that after carrying out the brutal attack,Harris then tried to cover up his actions by lying to the police.

"There is no doubt that there was a struggle between Mr Webb and Harris and there is no doubt that Mr Webb fought back to try to save his life.

"Harris inflicted seven stab wounds to Mr Webb's head and his back. He then knelt on James Webb's bleeding body and applied pressure to his neck area.

Ms Morgan added: "At the time of this incident Jamie Webb had either supplied drugs or was involved in the supply of drugs which resulted in Harris owing £400.

"It was that debt that triggered the events on February 3 and 4, " she added.

Harris drove to Mr Webb's address, parking his car in College Road and walked to the house at 9.16 pm in February.

Three-and-a-half hours later Harris left the house with Mr Webb's mobile phone, his car and house keys, a TV remote and a claw hammer.

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