A man has been convicted after pushing an 18-year-old woman off a fourth-floor balcony after she rejected his advances and stabbing two people at a party he was hosting.

Yusef Ali, from Lambeth, was found guilty of committing grievous bodily harm with intent following a trial at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday.

He was found not guilty of attempted murder.

The 19-year-old had been hosting a party with his friend at a luxury flat in Bermondsey, southeast London, on 4 August last year, the court heard.

Image: Yusef Ali, 19, has been convicted of grievous bodily harm

Image: The scene where the victim landed. Pic: CPS

The victim, who had not met Ali before, arrived with her friends and he soon began making inappropriate advances towards her.


Ali placed his hand in the thigh rip of her jeans and aggressively placed his arm around her neck, saying: "This is what I do in the bedroom."

He also grabbed her and pulled her hair to get her attention. After it was made clear the interest was not reciprocated, he became angry and aggressive.

Later, another group of boys arrived and a fight broke out between them and Ali, who had armed himself with a knife from the kitchen.

He started waving the blade in people's faces before lashing out and stabbing, the court heard.

Those at the party immediately began to flee the scene but Ali managed to stab at least two other males as they tried to leave the property.

Both were taken to hospital and have since recovered from their injuries.

The female victim managed to leave the flat and was attempting to call for the lift when Ali approached her.

She ran to the balcony and called to those below for help but Ali ran towards her and pushed her over the ledge.

She landed on the hard floor below and suffered significant injuries including fractures to her neck and lower back.

The victim has spent several weeks in hospital and though she is making a good recovery, she has been unable to go back to work or college.

Image: The block of flats where Ali was hosting a party in southeast London

Police arrested Ali as he was attempting to leave the building following the incident.

A blade found at the venue matched a knife handle in Ali's pocket at the time of his arrest.

Detective Constable Tom Waller said: "Ali violently pushed an innocent 18-year-old woman off a fourth floor internal balcony in a fit of rage which had already seen him stab two men.

"It was only by sheer luck that she was not more seriously injured and although she is recovering well, this incident has had a huge impact on her life."

Det. Waller added that Ali did not care who he injured and was "clearly intent on harming anyone in his path".

Ali will be sentenced on 5 March.