County lines drug dealer jailed for life for murder

A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering a fellow county lines drugs dealer.

Leon Bangura turned up at Kalvin Taylor's flat in the Mile Cross area of Norwich, with the intention of robbing him for drugs and money, however, Bangura stabbed him once in the chest and fled to London.

Taylor, 19, was attacked on Sunday 15 September 2024 and his body was only discovered by officers on a sofa at a flat in Lefroy Road in Norwich almost a week later.

At Norwich Crown Court on Thursday, Bangura, of Old Kent Road, London, was sentenced to life, with a minimum term of 29 years and 153 days in prison after he was found guilty of murder at an earlier trial.

The court had heard how the murder had been connected to a turf war between rival drug gangs.

Police said Taylor, who was from London, had been dealing drugs from the flat for the 'Batman' line whereas Bangura had been working for the rival 'Lenny' line.

After fleeing the flat, Bangura returned to Norwich to repeatedly deal drugs and was arrested in a parked car in the city while in possession of drugs and a knife.

Other charges included being concerned in supply of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply crack cocaine and possession of a knife blade in a public place.

During the trial, the court heard how a white Audi A3, thought to be an unlicenced taxi, was captured on CCTV on Lefroy Road where the occupants got out and headed towards the flat.

The same vehicle was seen on Prince of Wales Road the following day and Bangura was tracked walking to Norwich Railway Station.

In a tribute from his mother read out in court by a solicitor, she said: "Even though I do not condone the situation that Kalvin had found himself in, my son was not an aggressive or violent person.

"To find out he died alone and was left in a flat for a week without anyone helping him has been heartbreaking to hear."

Det Insp Dave McCormack said: "Today's sentence sends a clear and unequivocal message that knife crime and serious violence will not be tolerated in Norfolk and those responsible will be robustly pursued and brought before the courts."

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