A NIGHTCLUB promoter was shot dead in a revenge attack for stealing cannabis from his rivals in a drug war, a court has heard.

Daniel Herbert, of Holywell Close, Orpington, was killed in Clements Road, Bermondsey, in the early hours of August 17, 2009.

Bobby Winser, aged 22, from Bermondsey, and Michael Campbell, aged 25, from Camberwell, are standing trial at the Old Bailey accused of murdering the 27-year-old.

This morning, prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee told the jury Mr Herbert was killed because he was part of a gang who burgled Winser’s home in Eldridge Court, Bermondsey, two or three times to steal cannabis he was producing there.

He said: “It was effectively a drugs war breaking out.”

Mr Jafferjee said that in the early hours of August 17, Mr Herbert was spotted walking past the house in Eldridge Court by Winser, Campbell and two other men, who chased him through the streets.

He said: “Daniel Herbert was cornered, viciously beaten, kicked in the head and then as he lay in the street utterly defenceless he was shot in the head.”

Mr Jafferjee told the court there is currently insufficient evidence to charge the two other men involved in the attack with murder.

The jury heard Winser and Campbell fled to the home of Winser’s uncle and grandmother, Darren and Doreen Mitchell, in Eastbourne in East Sussex after the attack.

Darren Mitchell, who Mr Jafferjee told the court is involved in drugs, asked a friend to listen to what Winser and Campbell had done and then advise them on the best course of action, the court heard.

However, this friend was secretly a police informant, and he told officers what Winser and Campbell had told him.

Darren Mitchell, aged 42, and 68-year-old Doreen Mitchell, are standing trial alongside Winser and Campbell.

Both Mitchells are accused of assisting an offender, alleged to have given false information to police following Mr Herbert’s death.

All four defendants deny all the charges.

The trial continues.