15-year-old Boris Bike killer faces a life sentence

A public schoolboy who murdered a college student to death and escaped on a Boris Bike a month after he was caught with samurai sword is facing a life sentence.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named, was caught on CCTV plunging a lock-knife into 17-year-old Ayoub Hassan’s heart behind Waitrose near West Kensington tube station.

The killer rode off on the bike as members of the public, including nurse India Noakes rushed to Mr Hassan’s aid.

Mr Hassan, who had recently enrolled at West London College, was rushed to St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, but a team of eight surgeons could not save him.

He was pronounced dead at 4pm on 7 March this year.

The killer boasted from the witness box that he found drug dealing ‘enjoyable’ and could earn up to £150 per day on top of the £20 he was given by his father.

He claimed Mr Hassan had stabbed him four months earlier for ‘shorting him £50’ and pressured him into ‘county lines’ drug dealing for him.

The teenager claimed he armed himself with one of the victim’s own blades, which he picked up from under a bush nearby on his way into the alley, because he was scared of being knifed again.

But prosecutor Anthony Orchard QC said the teenager was ‘angry and wanted revenge’.

An Old Bailey jury today (fri) convicted him of murder after deliberating for five hours following a three-week trial.

Relatives of Mr Hassan, who watched most of the trial from the well of the court, sobbed as the verdict was announced.

The defendant’s father was also sat in court as his son was found guilty.

Judge Anuja Dhir, QC, will sentence the teenager on 27 September.

Mr Orchard told jurors: ‘It may be difficult being a young man in London these days, particularly if you choose to involve yourself in the murky world of drug dealing.

‘The rewards may be lucrative, but there are clear, identifiable risks.

‘Violence and the need to protect yourself are two adjuncts of the drugs business, and weapons – knives in particular – are no doubt common.

The 15-year-old had chosen to involve himself in drug dealing. When he first did so it may be that he did not realise the risks.

‘But they would have become quickly apparent.

‘He “enjoyed” what he did, no doubt because £150 per day was a small fortune to a 15-year-old.’?

The teenager was convicted of assault in January this year and a three-foot-long samurai sword was found in his bedroom the following month.

At the time of the stabbing he was also the subject of a Community Behaviour Order imposed last October.

The teenager, a pupil at a leading private school, had previous convictions for common assault, supplying class A drugs and possession of cannabis.

He was also on bail for robbery and attempted robbery at the time of his arrest.

‘You may think [the defendant] became street-wise – happy to dish out or receive street justice,’ Mr Orchard told jurors.

‘On 6 March Ayoub Hassan and [the teenager] socialised together and with friends. The next day [the boy] was clearly angry with Ayoub.

‘He got a knife, went to confront Ayoub and stabbed Ayoub.

‘He wanted to exact revenge on Ayoub.’

Jurors heard how the attacker, now 16, delivered the fatal blow in the alleyway behind Waitrose on North End Road.

‘None of the youths with the deceased or the defendant have helped the police or told them why Ayoub Hassan was stabbed,’ Mr Orchard said.

‘The defendant made no comment to all questions he was asked during his interview.’

Jurors heard Mr Hassan could be seen on CCTV being joined by a number of other youths in the small covered alleyway.

‘The defendant appears to become agitated and squared up to Ayoub Hassan,’ Mr Orchard said.

‘Ayoub Hassan is not seen to act aggressively.

‘The other males in the alley were standing nearby. None of them act aggressively. Suddenly the defendant punched out with the knife, once, striking into Ayoub Hassan’s chest.

‘The blade of the knife is seen. One of the other youths standing in the alleyway responded immediately by trying to push the defendant away.

‘Ayoub Hassan moved away, holding his chest. The group, including the defendant followed him down the alleyway towards Lanfrey Place.

‘Ayoub Hassan collapsed. He was helped to his feet, stumbled a short distance and then collapsed again.

‘The defendant left the alleyway and is captured on CCTV mounting a ‘Boris Bike’ and cycling away.’

Ms Noakes, the nurse, saw the barely conscious teenager had been stabbed in the chest and noticed a lot of blood on his T-shirt.

When she asked for police after calling for an ambulance, one of the youths holding Mr Hassan up said: ‘No police’.

The 16-year-old, from southwest London, denied but was convicted of murder.

He admitted having a bladed article, namely a knife.

The teenager will be sentenced on 27 September.

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