Rapper Nathan Tokosi, who performs under the stage name DigDat, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years for a brutal drive-by shooting in West London. The Old Bailey heard harrowing details of the attack and the defendant's extensive history of violence, which dates back to when he was just 11 years old.
Notting Hill Shooting Incident
On November 20, 2023, Daniel Offei-Ntow, a 27-year-old rival artist performing as Lugavelz, was sitting in his car in Notting Hill when a stolen Audi pulled up beside him. At least six shots were fired from a rear passenger window, striking Mr Offei-Ntow in the head, mouth, and body. Prosecutors described him as "lucky not to die" from the injuries sustained in this premeditated attack.
Firearms officers responded swiftly to the scene, discovering the victim's Mitsubishi Outlander riddled with bullet holes and the interior covered in blood. They followed a trail of blood to Mr Offei-Ntow's flat, where he was found sitting on a sofa in shock and severely injured. Police dogs later recovered a latex glove and a black bag containing a firearm and ammunition near where the Audi had been abandoned.
Investigation and Evidence
The court heard that Tokosi had borrowed a BMW to make two trips from his father's home in Deptford, south-east London, to Notting Hill on consecutive nights around the time of the shooting. Prosecutor Kate Bex KC stated there was no "innocent explanation" for both the BMW and the Audi being in the same West London location. DNA evidence belonging to Tokosi and another artist, Kamal Benjamin (known as Wesson), was found in the Audi, though further evidence showed Mr Benjamin had left the UK days before the incident.
Following two trials at the Old Bailey last year, Tokosi was convicted of attempted murder and multiple firearms offences. In a second trial in November, he was further convicted of possessing a firearm and ammunition on February 4, 2024.
Violent History Uncovered
During sentencing, the court was informed of Tokosi's eight previous convictions for 13 offences, with a pattern of violence beginning in childhood. At age 11, he punched a girl in the face and, four months later, punched and kneed a boy in the head in separate incidents. By age 13, he had stabbed a victim in the ribcage during an altercation, resulting in a conviction for attempted murder and a sentence of seven years' youth detention plus three years on extended licence.
Mitigation and Sentencing
In mitigation, defence counsel Shannon Revel described Tokosi as a "laidback" young man who became overwhelmed by his rapid rise to fame in the music industry. She explained that his career as a rapper "effectively became an existence, rather than something that he could take time off from," leaving him little opportunity for reflection. Tokosi, who was diagnosed with ADHD at age 11, had also struggled with behavioural issues at school.
Despite these submissions, Judge Sarah Munro KC stated she had "no doubt" that Tokosi was a dangerous offender. As he was led from the dock, Tokosi made a phone gesture to the public gallery, where weeping could be heard from his family members in attendance.
Official Responses
Helen Shaw from the Crown Prosecution Service commented: "This was an utterly mindless attack which very nearly claimed a life. The Crown Prosecution Service was determined to ensure Tokosi was prosecuted for the full extent of his offending, and we hope today's sentence will offer some closure to the victim's family."
Detective Inspector Chris Shepherd from the Central South Borough Command Unit added: "Tokosi's actions were premeditated, reckless and malicious. He lied at trial, maintaining that he had no involvement whatsoever in the shooting. The committed police investigation to bring Tokosi before the courts reflects our no-tolerance approach to gang violence on London's streets."
It was noted in court that Mr Offei-Ntow has since died, though this was confirmed to be unconnected to the shooting with no third party involvement. Tokosi, whose single "Air Force" peaked at number 20 on the UK singles chart in 2018, now faces decades behind bars for his crimes.
