A drill rapper who stabbed a rival gang member in the heart, leaving him in coma from which he may never emerge, has been jailed for 14 years.

Joshua Erorh, 18, stabbed “quiet and shy” 21-year-old Ahmad Torfi twice in the chest outside After Hours takeaway, on New Cross Road, on March 14, 2020.

Erorh posted a music video boasting about the attack, referencing Ahmad's food order.

Ahmad, who worked as a steward at events including football matches and concerts, survived after paramedics performed open heart surgery on the roadside, watched by his twin brother.

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But he suffered severe brain damage, and nearly a year on has never regained consciousness and remains in hospital, where his family said doctors believe he will eventually die.

Judge Laurie West-Knights told Erorh: “I am conscious that any sentence I impose will appear inadequate to the family of the victim.

“You were associated with the 814 gang, Ahmad Torfi was a member of the Monson Bloodset gang.

“Your life has been affected by gang involvement for years, you saw a senior member of a gang, who you looked up to, murdered.

“You gave evidence at trial, and as a result, you were stabbed.

“Authorities moved you away from the area.”

“That didn't stop you engaging in social media disputes with other members of the gang, that didn't stop you returning to the area.

“That didn't stop you carrying a knife, that didn't stop you returning to the After Hours restaurants, which was accepted as a neutral area for food.

“It may have been that you were carrying the knife for protection, tragically that is how so many of these cases before this court begin.

“You may now be feeling some remorse for what you have done.”

Erorh claimed at trial that he was attacked by Torfi who he then disarmed and stabbed using Torfi's knife. 

He was found not guilty of attempted murder after a trial at Kingston Crown Court, and instead found guilty of the lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Erorh, of South Essex, was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment at a young offenders' institution before he is moved to an adult prison at the age of 21.

He will serve 10 years before being becoming eligible for release on licence.

Ahmad's sister Forough, 21, who shared pictures of his condition to draw attention to the cost of knife crime, said: "I want to share Ahmad's story.

"I want people to hear more about him and what an amazing guy he is rather than talking about the boy who stabbed him.

"Ahmad never had any problems with anyone, he wasn't ever violent or aggressive.

"Nobody hated him or even disliked him.

"He kept a distance from people he didn't see eye to eye with - he never had conflicts or problems with anyone at all.

"When the news of the stabbing came out, there was a storm of people who were so shocked that this could ever happen to him.

"Nobody could ever have expected that Ahmad would be in this position because of how beautiful and loved he is."