A rapper has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years for a brutal drive-by shooting in west London, where a man was shot multiple times but miraculously survived. Nathan Tokosi, who performs under the stage name DigDat, was found guilty of attempted murder and firearms charges last year, leading to his sentencing at the Old Bailey.
Details of the Violent Attack
The incident occurred on 20 November 2023 in Notting Hill, when Daniel Offei-Ntow, aged 27, was sitting in his car. According to prosecutor Kate Bex KC, Tokosi was among several individuals in a stolen Audi from which at least six shots were fired from a passenger window. Mr Offei-Ntow was struck in the head, mouth, and body, sustaining severe injuries that required life-saving surgery.
Despite his critical condition, Mr Offei-Ntow managed to escape the vehicle and drag himself back to his flat, where firearms officers later found him by following a trail of blood. Helen Shaw from the Crown Prosecution Service stated that Tokosi had "clearly intended to kill his victim by shooting him in the head at close range", with CCTV evidence showing him driving the Audi in the area prior to the attack.
Evidence and Previous Convictions
Investigations revealed Tokosi's DNA inside the stolen Audi, and police discovered he had borrowed a BMW from his father's home in Deptford, southeast London, for trips to Notting Hill the same weekend. Ms Bex emphasised there was no "innocent explanation" for both vehicles being in the same location, strengthening the case against him.
The court heard that Tokosi has a lengthy criminal history, with eight previous convictions. These include violent incidents from his youth, such as punching a girl in the face and attacking a boy when he was just 11 years old. At age 13, he was convicted of attempted murder for stabbing someone in the ribcage, resulting in a seven-year detention sentence.
Further Criminal Activities and Defence
Before his arrest for the drive-by shooting, Tokosi was involved in another incident where he threw a bag containing a loaded weapon from a car and fled on foot after refusing to stop for police. A separate "loaded viable firearm" was found during a raid on his home on 16 February 2024. He was convicted for these firearms offences, along with the attempted murder, in trials held in March and November 2025.
Defence barrister Shannon Revel argued that Tokosi, who has ADHD, was a "laidback" young man who became entangled in the "fast-paced and chaotic" lifestyle of his music career. She claimed that his rapid rise to success, highlighted by his 2018 single "Air Force" reaching number 20 in the UK charts, left him with little time for reflection.
Sentencing and Emotional Courtroom Scene
As Tokosi was led away to begin his life sentence, there was weeping from the public gallery, with him making a phone gesture to his family. This marks his second attempted murder conviction, underscoring a pattern of violent behaviour despite his musical achievements.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about gun crime and violent offences in London, particularly involving individuals with prior criminal records. Authorities have emphasised the severity of the sentence as a deterrent, reflecting the gravity of the attack and Tokosi's dangerous history.
