A gang have been locked up for planning 'revenge' attacks against a rival group who brutally murdered their ‘leader’. Members of the M40 gang stocked up on weapons including machetes and a crossbow, and carried out at least three brutal attacks to avenge the death of John Soyoye .
The attacks were meticulously planned in group chats over three months. The group were handed lengthy sentences at Preston Crown Court today (July 1) following a trial in May in which four defendants were found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit murder and another six were found guilty of a conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent. There was crying from the public gallery as the young men, many who were under 18 at the time of the offence, were given lengthy prison sentences.
The offences were in retaliation to the brutal murder of John Soyoye, 16 in Moston on November 5 2020. He was murdered after the M40 gang attacked a Rochdale and Oldham based gang, Representing the Danger (RTD), earlier that day in Piccadilly Gardens.
READ MORE: Security staff ‘left teenager in nightclub toilet with woman he allegedly raped’
In the days following John Soyoye’s murder the M40 gang plotted their revenge in group chats. They then went on to attack young men with machetes in retaliation. The attacks showed a 'significant degree of planning and (were) premeditated', a judge said.
Each defendant had a ‘principal part’ within the criminal conspiracy ‘to kill others or cause GBH where the victims suffered very serious machete wounds’, Judge Sir Julian Goose said.
“There was planning for murder and weapons were taken to seek targets. There was serious harm caused in the attacks. There was planning over a three month period to kill two or more as part of the group and to use dangerous weapons. It was a crime fixated on revenge."
The judge considered the conspiracy serious enough, given the violent incidents that happened, to sentence Harry Oni, Jeffery Ojo, and Gideon Kalumda, to 21-years in jail each for conspiracy to commit murder. Brooklyn Jitobah was handed 20 years.
Oni was only 17 at the time of the offences (19 now), Ojo 19 to 20 (now 21), Kalumda 18 to 19 (now 20), and Jitoboh 17 (now 18).
In the days following John Soyoye's murder, the gang set up a chat on instant messaging service Telegram where seven of the 10 defendants spoke of acquiring information on targets to attack in revenge. Adedeji aka ‘Stormzy’, Savi aka ‘RS’, Okoya aka ‘O1’ and Okunola aka ‘Y’ or ‘Y Hushpuppi’ identified the targets and sought out information about their movements. Oni aka ‘BP’, Ojo aka ‘B9’, Kalumda aka ‘Jamie Trapp’, Jitoboh aka ‘Striker’, Thorne aka ‘SJ’ and Thomas aka ‘MJ’ acquired weapons and went out to locate and attack.
Plans included finding ‘young females’ that could be targeted to hand over information about RTD members and kidnapping a cousin of Ismael Correia, who was jailed for the murder of John Soyoye, and extracting information from him.
At least three attacks were carried out in revenge, prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford QC said. This included an attack at a block of flats in Rochdale on December 16 where Oni and Kalunda chased three men with machetes with Oni ‘slashing’ one of the men across the back. "The intention was obviously to kill," Judge Goose said. The man was able to escape into a shop and the attack was stopped.
Another attack on December 28 at the same flats resulted in another man being seriously injured in a machete attack, before being run over in a car being driven by Kalumda, Thomas, and Thorne. An off duty PCSO driving in the area was able to intervene and stop the attack.
"Had it not been for their arrests it would have led to more serious injuries or killing," Judge Goose said.
Mitigation
Defending Oni, Mark Rhind QC, told the court that Oni 'didn't come close' to the 'stated aim' of revenge and that it 'lost momentum' through December. He became involved in a 'make believe world' of gangs and drill music at a young age and 'let himself and his family down'.
For Ojo, Michael Hayton QC, said that emotions were running high straight after the murder of their friend. However, he had high 'prospects for the future' which included having a place to study engineering at university.
Kalumda, defended by David Toal, was absent from any of the Telegram or later Snapchat group chats where discussion were held over planning and acquiring weapons. However, he was involved in the attacks on December 16 and 28, which included holding a machete.
Jamie Hamilton QC, in mitigation for Jitoboh, said it was a 'significant factor' that he was only 17 at the time of the offences. He was also an 'articulate' man when giving evidence during the trial.
Savi distanced himself from group chats after using aggressive language during the first Telegram group chat on November 8, David Temkin QC said in mitigation. He had been accepted into Salford University for an accounting course and 'has a lot to offer'. But Judge Goose said that it was 'serious violence' being discussed in the Telegram chat of November 8.
Adedeji's only involvement was in the Telegram chat which was used as evidence of clear planning for a conspiracy to murder or to cause GBH on November 8. "It was as minimal as it could be," John Harrison QC, defending, said.
Thorne was another that was involved in some of the group chats but didn't involve himself in any of the December attacks, Nina Grahamme QC told the court. She said he was easily led due to his young age at the time and was involved in the life of drill music and gangs which gave him a 'sense of belonging'. Tim Storrie QC, argued that Thomas did not play a central role in any of the conspiracy.
Nigel Edwards QC defended Okunola by saying he 'steadfastly denied' being who police said he was in the Telegram group chat. Mr Edwards described him as a 'keyboard warrior' who 'fell off the straight and narrow'. During the offences he was two years through obtaining a first class honours degree in computer science could still have a 'stellar future ahead of him'.
For Okoya, Adam Kane QC, said that while he was involved in the November 8 Telegram chat, there was an 'absence of involvement' after this.
Sentences
Harry Oni, 19, of Mythorn Walk, Ardwick, was sentenced to 18 years with a three year extended licence for conspiracy to commit murder. And 21 months concurrent for violent disorder.
Jeffery Ojo, 21, of Newick Walk, Blackley, was sentenced to 18 years with a three year extended licence for conspiracy to commit murder.
Gideon Kalumda, 20, of William Lister Close, Newton Heath, was sentenced to 18 years with a three year extended licence for conspiracy to commit murder.
Brooklyn Jitoboh, 18, of Bluestone Road, Moston, was sentenced 17 years with a three year extended licence for conspiracy to commit murder. And 18 months concurrent for violence disorder.
Simon Thorne, 19, of Rhine Drive, Salford, was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent in a young offenders institution. And 18 months concurrent for violent disorder.
Martin Thomas, 19, of Broadoak Road, Wythenshawe, was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent in a young offenders institution.
Ademola Adedeji, 19, of Beehive Road, Bolton, was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent in a young offenders institution.
Raymond Savi, 19, of Droylsden Road, Failsworth, was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent in a young offenders institution.
Omolade Okoya, 19, of Whitecar Avenue, New Moston, was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent in a young offenders institution.
Azim Okunola, 19, of Silvercroft Street, Manchester, was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent in a young offenders institution.
Valdemar Somedo, 19, of Darras Road, Gorton, was sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders institution for violent disorder.
'Serious threat of harm to their targets as well as a very real risk to members of the public'
Detective Superintendent Nat Dalby, of GMP’s Rochdale district, said: “Today is the culmination of a lengthy investigation by Rochdale’s Serious and Organised Crime Team. After utilising the skills of specialist colleagues to break the encryption of a messaging service, the investigation team found hundreds of thousands of communications proving that these ten men had entered in to an agreement to kill or seriously injure a number of individuals.
“Their plans, some of which had been executed and others which remained in planning, posed a serious threat of harm to their targets as well as a very real risk to members of the public.
“This case shines a light on the type of work which is ongoing, often behind the scenes, to prevent and reduce violent crime across Greater Manchester – ultimately keeping our communities safe. This positive outcome should reassure members of the public and warn offenders that those involved in both the planning and execution of acts of violence will be prosecuted and brought to face justice, where they should expect to feel the full force of the system.”
Judge Goose praised the work of the three police officers who investigated this case, and all the barristers involved throughout the long trial.
For more of today's top stories click here.
READ NEXT
