A notorious gang-member, who claimed his life-of-crime was over as he battled deportation, has been jailed for thirty months for smuggling heroin and three mobile phone sim cards into a top-security prison.
Sierra Leonne-born Mikey Giwa, 23, - one of the leader's of Croydon's notorious 'Don't Say Nothin' gang - had recently been working as a mentor for charity Lives Not Knives.
Giwa, (pictured) of Lancing Road, Croydon was convicted by a Woolwich Crown Court jury on two charges of conveying articles into Belmarsh Prison on November 1, last year.
He has previous convictions for indecent assault; robbery; affray; handling stolen goods and possessing cannabis and this latest conviction occurred following his release from a Home Office immigration detention facility.
The gang, which included Giwa's twin brother Joland, were linked to the murder of 16 year-old Wesley Sterling, an attack on two police officers, plus other offences, including robbery and burglary.
A police source said: "These two thought they could get away with anything. They were part of a massive crime wave across Croydon for a long time."
The court heard Giwa tried to put his trousers into a property box during the prison visit before he was searched, but they were checked and the wrap of heroin and sim cards quickly found.
His lawyer David Barnes said: "He got involved in gang culture, but had the courage to move away from that lifestyle and now works for the Croydon charity Lives Not Knives.
"There is also an issue with the UK Border Agency and an ongoing appeal regarding his status in this country."
Giwa told his local newspaper just three months ago: "I've moved on from being in a gang now, to trying to help people that are in gangs or people that want to get out of gangs.
"When I got introduced to Lives Not Knives I thought: 'This is the answer."
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