A 43-year-old man has been convicted of a historic Gants Hill murder.

Jason Moore, of no fixed abode, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of killing Robert Darby in August 2005. He will be sentenced on Monday.

Det Insp Andy Jones of the Met’s homicide and major crime command said: “Despite the passage of time, Moore has been found guilty of a murder he committed eight years ago.

“This conviction should stand as a stark reminder that we will pursue anyone who commits a violent crime.”

On the day in question – August 24, 2005 – police found Mr Darby, 42, of Byng Street, E14, suffering stab injuries. He was taken by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital.

Sadly, he was pronounced dead the following day. A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as a stab wound to the chest.

Mr Darby had been driving his black BMW in the Gants Hill area when he met Moore and another man.

The trio, who were all known to each other, became involved in an altercation by the side of the road, which resulted in Mr Darby being stabbed.

Killer Moore fled to Spain on the day of the murder before moving on again – this time to Dubai.

But he was arrested on suspicion of murder in October last year upon his return to the UK.

A second defendant, 47-year-old Martin Power, also of no fixed address, was acquitted. Both men denied the murder charge.