Drill rapper, 18, who left gang rival brain damaged in knife attack is jailed for 14 years

Joshua Erorh, 18, of South Essex, sentenced to 14 years at a a young offenders institution

A gang member who left his rival with brain damage after a knife attack and then rapped ‘I put A in the A&E’ has been jailed for 14 years.  

Joshua Erorh, 18, stabbed a 21-year-old Ahmad Torfi twice in the chest, piercing his heart, outside After Hours takeaway on New Cross Road, south east London at 11.50pm on 14 March 2020.

Mr Torfi was saved by paramedics who did open heart surgery on the pavement, but suffered permanent brain damage because his heart stopped from the attack.

He remains in critical condition almost a year later.

Erorh, also known as Lil MDot, posted a video of him rapping about the attack on YouTube while he was on the run from the police.

The rap contained the lyrics: ‘Should have been dead but you pulled through fighting/ Blue tape it was done by me/ I put A in the A&E.’

The 814 gang-member was weeks away from signing a deal with Universal Music when he ambushed Mr Torfi, a member of the rival Monson gang.

Ahmad Torfi, 21, was stabbed outside After Hours , a takeaway on New Cross Road, south east London at 11:50pm on 14 March 2020

Ahmad Torfi, 21, was stabbed outside After Hours , a takeaway on New Cross Road, south east London at 11:50pm on 14 March 2020

He ran off into the night leaving his bike behind him and was chased by his victim and the victim’s brother.

The victim was unaware of how severe his injuries were when he started running but suddenly collapsed in the street.

Mr Torfi remains in critical condition almost a year later (pictured months after the stabbing)

Mr Torfi remains in critical condition almost a year later (pictured months after the stabbing)

His brother to drove him directly to hospital before the pair were stopped by a patrol car on Friendly Street in Deptford.

Police officers gave the victim first aid in the back seat of the car while paramedics rushed to the scene.

Paramedics then performed open heart surgery on the side of the road to restart his heart.

Judge Laurie West-Knights told Erorh: ‘On 14 March last year you stabbed Ahmad Torfi with intent to do serious bodily harm.

‘He suffered traumatic injuries, the stab wounds caused his heart to stop briefly, by the time his restarted irreparable damage had occurred.

‘I am conscious that any sentence I impose will appear inadequate to the family of the victim.

‘You were associated with the 814 gang, Ahmad Torfi was a member of the Monson Bloodset gang.

‘Your life has been affected by gang involvement for years, you saw a senior member of a gang, who you looked up to, murdered.

‘You gave evidence at trial, and as a result, you were stabbed.

‘Authorities move you away from the area.

Mr Torfi and his sister Forough Torfi. Mr Torfi was said to be a 'quiet and shy' 21-year-old, who had been collecting a takeaway with his twin and girlfriend when the attack took place

Mr Torfi and his sister Forough Torfi. Mr Torfi was said to be a ‘quiet and shy’ 21-year-old, who had been collecting a takeaway with his twin and girlfriend when the attack took place

‘That didn’t stop you engaging in social media disputes with other members of the gang, that didn’t stop you returning to the area.

‘That didn’t stop you carrying a knife, that didn’t stop you returning to the After Hours restaurants, which was accepted as a neutral area for food.

‘It may have been that you were carrying the knife for protection, tragically that is how so many of these cases before this court begin.

‘You may now be feeling some remorse for what you have done.’

The judge stated he considered Erorh to be a ‘significant risk to the public’.

Ahmad Torfi and an unnamed woman. Erorh posted a music video boasting about the attack

Ahmad Torfi and an unnamed woman. Erorh posted a music video boasting about the attack

Judge West-Knights continued: ‘I consider that your gang background combined with your continued willingness to return to the area, your willingness to carry weapons, and as tragically occurred here, to use those weapons, demonstrates that significant risk.’

Investigating officer DC Jamie Layton said: ‘This was a shocking act of violence that could have cost a man’s life, and my team and I were committed to bringing Erorh to justice.

‘Had it not been for the brilliant efforts of the medics, the victim may have died from his injuries.

‘However, his life and his family’s life has now been changed forever due to this brutal act of violence and he continues to fight for his life.’

Erorh claimed at the trial that he was attacked by Torfi, but disarmed him and stabbed Torfi with his own knife.

But a jury at Kingston Crown Court found Erorh guilty last year of causing grievous bodily harm with intent yesterday but cleared him of attempted murder.

Mr Torfi, a football steward, and his sister Forough Torfi

Mr Torfi, a football steward, and his sister Forough Torfi

He was arrested after a police investigation involving extensive CCTV and mobile phone analysis linked him to the scene of the crime.

Erorh racked up hundreds of thousands of views for his rap about the stabbing on YouTube, and was recorded singing in prison by a cellmate using a smuggled phone.

He was friends with two other rappers Leoandro Osemeke and Myron Yarde, who both lost their lives after fatal stabbings within months of each other in 2016.

The pair, aged 16 and 17, were friends and performed under the names Showkey and MDot.

In his 2018 song G to the B, Erorh raps: ‘I was 13 man, I didn’t know a lot, all I knew was to back my shank [knife] and chase opps [rivals].

‘2016 man two of my bros dropped, R.I.P Sho Sho, RI.P Mdot.’

Erorh witnessed Myron Yarde’s in December 2016 and gave evidence for the prosecution at the four attackers’ trial at which they were all convicted of manslaughter.

But he was stabbed in retaliation months later and had to be moved to a police safehouse.

Erorh was found not guilty of attempted murder after a trial at Kingston Crown Court, but was found guilty of the lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Erorh, of South Essex, was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment at a young offenders’ institution before he is moved to an adult prison at the age of 21.

He will serve 10 years before being becoming eligible for release on licence.