Deadly team jailed after stabbing wrong man in drugs turfwar
MEN on Sunday|June 25, 2023
A DEADLY team of hitmen were hired from Manchester to take down a rival drug dealer in a bitter turf-war – but instead murdered a peacemaker sent to diffuse tensions.
REBECCA SHERDLEY, SOPHIE HALLE-RICHARDS
Deadly team jailed after stabbing wrong man in drugs turfwar

Leonard Ward, the head of an Organised Crime Group in Nottingham ordered the killing of a local drugs kingpin who was threatening his supply of super strength cannabis in the Meadows area of the city.

He enlisted the help of Manchester drugs lord, Benjamin Taylor, who handpicked three assassins from his own group of dealers, to hunt down the rival dealer.

But northerners, Joseph Boscombe, Joshua Agboola and Michael Mingoes instead brutally murdered peacemaker, Michael O’Connor, who was stabbed to death after being sent to try and mediate between the two OCG leaders.

Taylor arranged for the trio to travel to Nottingham by car to carry out the attack on the rival dealer or one of his associates, Nottingham Crown Court heard. The trio were chosen due to their size, sheer aggression and/or willingness to use weapons and extreme violence, Nottinghamshire Live reports.

They were deliberately selected to ensure they had no links to Nottingham and could carry out the killing without it being linked back to other members of the hit-team.

Taylor travelled from Manchester with the others to a pre-arranged meeting with Ward, to oversee from a distance the final preparations for the plan. His team were holed up by Nottingham locals, Jerone Sheard and his mother, Carla McGuire.

A meeting had been arranged for 10.15pm on November 10, 2021 where the rival drug lord was due to attend. Instead, Mr O’Connor, 31, known by many as Anton, arrived instead.

Unbeknown to him, a carefully planned and organised ambush awaited him at the hands of heavily armed males.

Denne historien er fra June 25, 2023-utgaven av MEN on Sunday.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra June 25, 2023-utgaven av MEN on Sunday.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA MEN ON SUNDAYSe alt
Ammies pay the price in last-gasp loss
MEN on Sunday

Ammies pay the price in last-gasp loss

SALFORD City suffered late heartbreak when substitute Ben Barclay came off the bench to score Carlisle's winner in a 1-0 victory at the Peninsula Stadium.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
Ruud believes good times can return under new boss Ruben
MEN on Sunday

Ruud believes good times can return under new boss Ruben

RUUD van Nistelrooy has told United fans that he 'only sees good things' ahead for the club as he prepares to end his four-game spell as caretaker manager at Leicester City this afternoon.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024
You need to for help help us to grow so we can employ more people'
MEN on Sunday

You need to for help help us to grow so we can employ more people'

Worried traders’ message to government after Budget

time-read
4 mins  |
November 10, 2024
'Counterfeit Street' is looking at a brighter future
MEN on Sunday

'Counterfeit Street' is looking at a brighter future

Huge crackdown has seen hundreds of shops shut down in crime-ridden road.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 10, 2024
Children 'using cannabis vapes'
MEN on Sunday

Children 'using cannabis vapes'

SCHOOLCHILDREN are buying drags of super-strong cannabis vapes for as little a 50p a go, experts have found.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
I'm still hogging a family home that I don't want
MEN on Sunday

I'm still hogging a family home that I don't want

WHEN Jacqueline Hume and her two children moved into their council house in the early 1990s, it was the perfect size.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
Drug fiend raped child after GMP data glitch
MEN on Sunday

Drug fiend raped child after GMP data glitch

Force failed to keep tabs on predator

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024
Priests in tears after people rally for church
MEN on Sunday

Priests in tears after people rally for church

Volunteers turn out in force after building was damaged by blaze.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024
FIRST TO MARKET
MEN on Sunday

FIRST TO MARKET

Thousands head to Christmas stalls

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
'Canal jewels can be World Heritage sites'
MEN on Sunday

'Canal jewels can be World Heritage sites'

A STRETCH of canals in Greater Manchester should become a world heritage site, an MP has claimed.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 10, 2024