A 16-year-old boy has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years after being found guilty of murdering a man in a Cheltenham alleyway in a robbery that went violently wrong. The teenager stabbed Hamid Erfani, 46, once in the chest in an alley running between Larput Place and St Paul’s Road on 16 December 2025, killing him after taking his cash, drugs and mobile phone at knifepoint.
What Happened
The 16-year-old — who cannot be named for legal reasons — was 15 at the time of the offence. He and an 18-year-old met up in Cheltenham town centre around lunchtime, both armed with large knives. Aware that a drug dealer was due to meet buyers in the nearby alleyway, the pair waited and ambushed Mr Erfani when he arrived. They cornered him against the wall and robbed him at knifepoint. He did not resist. After taking the money, drugs and a phone, the younger boy stabbed Mr Erfani once in the chest, piercing his heart. Both fled, leaving him dying where he fell.
Emergency services attended but were unable to save Mr Erfani, who was known to friends as Mo. His family, who live in Iran, said his death left them in a state of “constant sorrow” and had caused “severe grief, emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, sleeping difficulties and ongoing psychological distress”.
Life Sentence and Verdict
Following a trial at Bristol Crown Court, a jury found the teenager guilty of murder in July 2026. He was formally sentenced on 8 September 2026. Mrs Justice Brunner DBE handed down a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years — reduced to 15 years and 101 days to account for 264 days already spent on remand. The judge told the defendant he “did a terrible thing” and would have to “live with the responsibility of what he did for the rest of his life”.
The older teenager, now 18, received a three-year youth rehabilitation order, including a 12-month curfew, 240 hours of unpaid work and a prohibition on contacting Mr Erfani’s family, after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article.
Detective Inspector Adam Stacey, who led the Gloucestershire Police investigation, said Mr Erfani was killed in “a vicious and callous act” and that it was “a senseless and needless act that has robbed a family of their loved one”.
Background
The court heard that the younger defendant had a deeply troubled background, including time in care, exposure to domestic violence and substance misuse, disrupted schooling and previous convictions including a 2024 robbery offence. Mrs Justice Brunner noted the defendant had been “grossly let down by those who should have kept him safe” but made clear that responsibility for the murder remained entirely with him. His disadvantaged background and diagnoses of conduct disorder and autism traits were recognised as mitigating factors.
Mr Erfani was not previously known to either boy. The prosecution explained he was working as a drug dealer in Cheltenham when the teenagers targeted him, having learned a deal was taking place nearby.
What Happens Next
The 16-year-old will remain in custody until he has served the minimum term, after which he may apply for parole. The 18-year-old’s supervision and unpaid work requirements are active under his three-year youth rehabilitation order. Gloucestershire Police say the investigation is concluded following the sentencing of both individuals.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as further information emerges from the courts.
