Teen Knife Gangster Left Victim Brain-Damaged

Jeremiah Ntim

A cocky teenager, whose devastating knife attack left his victim brain damaged, has been locked-up for ten years.

Jeremiah Ntim, 17, penned lyrics boasting about stabbing 30 year-old Dwayne Buchanan, who needed heart surgery and will require full-time care for the rest of his life.

Ntim, of Opal Street, Kennington pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm in nearby Kennington Road on March 23.

Blackfriars Crown Court also ordered he must remain on licence for an extended period of five years after his release.

Mr. Buchanan, originally from Birmingham, spent four months in hospital and then needed to stay at a rehabilitation centre.

Police were called to reports of a man being stabbed in an unprovoked attack at 11.38am.

Members of the public reported seeing two men arguing in the street, with one shouting loudly and the other asking to be left alone.

One of the men stabbed the other and made off, with officers attending and finding the victim with critical injuries.

He received medical attention at the scene before being taken to a nearby hospital in a critical condition.

The suspect fled the scene prior to police arrival, but witnesses reported he had spat at the victim before stabbing him.

The victim's clothing was taken away by police and sent off for forensic analysis and Ntim's DNA was recovered from saliva on the victim's jacket.

Evidence recovered from his address included a folding knife that was thrown from a window and a mobile phone.

The phone contained photos of Ntim with members of a gang and text messages indicating his possible membership.

Also found on the phone in the 'Notes' section were song lyrics believed to have been written by Ntim.

They read: "Man can't talk abt chinging. I love hittin chest or belly. Any sort of disrespect I'm leavin the whole street messy […] Funny boys us wanna play clown No Joke when u bump into one of my team. I Ching man n don't make a sound Den I take a rest next to the crime scene."

Dwayne Buchanan

Extensive enquiries by local officers and the invaluable information provided by witnesses who saw the attack provided the prosecution with a very strong case against him.

In a statement, Dwayne's family, said: "Dwayne is a loving and caring man with the best personality we have encountered.

“We are absolutely devastated about the fact he was attacked on the streets of London, so far away from home and the people who love and care for him.

"It is difficult to put into words just how heartbroken we are, we felt that we have lost the best bits of Dwayne.

“His mind that is left behind is so very weak and fragile and he becomes vacant before your eyes.

"We are left with so many questions, many of which might never be answered, and such uncertainty over his future.

“We are not sure if he really remembers who he is and how much he means to everyone.

"We deeply miss having him around to talk to and share our daily life with him.

“Words cannot begin to express the emptiness and hurt his family feels inside.

“We retain hope and have our prayers, as we all need to be strong for Dwayne, because he needs us all now to be stronger than ever."

Detective Constable Philip Boon, from Lambeth CID, said: "Dwayne was subjected to a horrific assault and it was only thanks to the outstanding efforts of medical staff on the scene that he survived.

"His injuries will affect him and his family and friends for the rest of their lives.

"Those who carry knives must face the consequences of their actions and we will continue to relentlessly pursue offenders intent on committing serious violence in the capital."