A 16-year-old gang member who stabbed another teenager with a ‘Rambo-style’ knife in a revenge attack has been jailed for 14 years.
The attacker, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was caught on CCTV plunging a huge blade into the chest of a 16-year-old victim in Newington Green, North London.
The killing is believed to be part of an ongoing feud between the victim’s ‘Essex Road Boys’ gang and the rival ‘Red Pitch Boys’ after the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Stefan Appleton in 2015.
The 16-year-old boy was arrested when police found a large hunting knife which had the DNA of the victim on it under his bed guilt, along with a picture of Stefan Appleton.
During their investigations, police found YouTube videos of the killer rapping about knives, gangs and violence. He was also found posing with with a fellow Essex Road gang members wearing a top with ‘RIP Stefan Appleton’ emblazoned across it.
CCTV images show the 16-year-old boy brandishing a huge ‘Rambo-style’ knife in Newington Green
The boy (left, wearing grey) was sentenced to 14 years behind bars after a jury at the Old Bailey found him guilty
London Crown Prosecution Service reviewing lawyer, Claire Holder, said: ‘This was a vicious attack involving large knives and the clear intention to take the life of another human being.
‘It was the strong scientific evidence that we presented in court, showing the victim’s blood on a knife found inside the defendant’s own home, which sealed his fate.
‘A dangerous gang member will now spend a significant amount of time in prison where he will no longer be a risk to the public.
‘Gang violence is unacceptable and we will not hesitate to prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes.’
The jury at the Old Bailey heard how up to six masked members of the Essex Boys chased the victim after spotting him riding a moped in Stoke Newington just before midnight on March 17 this year.
The six yobs shouted ‘f*** you’ as they brandished knives and chased the victim in the RK Mini Market on Matthias Road.
This image shows the lethal weapon that was used to stab another 16-year-old in North London
The court heard the stabbing was a revenge attack following the death of Stefan Appleton, 17, who was attacked and killed in 2015
The victim, whose brother belonged to the Red Pitch gang, tried to shield him from harm but one of the attacker leaned over the counter in the shop and plunged the blade into his chest.
As the victim lay on the floor clutching his wound, he said his attackers were members of the Essex Road gang and that he thought he was going to die.
The boy spent four days in hospital where he was treated for a punctured lung, a perforated liver and two lacerations of his upper right thigh.
The attack was part of a pre-planned revenge attack following in killing of Mr Appleton in 2015, the court heard.
Prosecutor Gino Connor said: ‘The attack was on an unarmed 16-year-old, who suffered life threatening injures.’
The 16 year-old boy, from Regents Park, was convicted of attempted murder, affray and possessing a knife after a trial at the Old Bailey.
Another suspect, Abel Chunda, 21, of no fixed address, was cleared of all charges by the jury.
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.