A 20-year-old man from Cranham has been jailed for a total of 14 years for the brutal murder of a man in South Ockendon during a vicious machete attack.

Zakaria Lahrar, 20, of Dee Close, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court today (Tuesday, September 25).

Daniel Boakye, 31, of Western Green, Dagenham, is due to be sentenced for murder and conspiring to supply cocaine at a date to be confirmed.

Lahrar was previously found guilty of murder on Thursday, March 8, following a three-week trial and Boakye admitted the offences on Tuesday, December 19, 2017.

Connal Cocker-Dawkins, 20, of Denmark Street, Plaistow, was found not guilty of conspiracy to murder but had previously pleaded guilty of conspiring to supply cocaine.

He was jailed for three years on Thursday, March 8.

Lee Dowman, 51, of Lytton Road, Grays, was found not guilty of murder by a jury.

Just before 1pm on Monday, August 21 last year, Boakye and Lahrar entered a property in Eden Green, South Ockendon.

Daniel Adger was attacked by Boakye with a machete as he sat in a chair.

He then ran outside calling for help while Boakye continued to attack him with the machete causing injuries to his legs, body and head.

Passersby quickly came to his aid and attempted to dress his wounds but he sadly died while being transferred to hospital.

Boakye and Lahrar drove from the scene in separate vehicles.

Extensive police investigation revealed the involvement of Boakye, Lahrar and Connal Cocker-Dawkins. CCTV showed Lahrar and Cocker-Dawkins meeting at a hotel in Grays shortly after the murder.

A police investigation followed which identified extensive telephone, CCTV and other evidence proving the involvement of Boakye and Lahrar in the attack and the supply of controlled drugs by Cocker-Dawkins.

Senior investigating officer, Det Ch Insp Daniel Stoten, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “Lahrar and Boakye conspired to attack Mr Adger and inflicted terrible wounds upon him that led his death.

“Boakye set upon Mr Adger, hitting him with a machete. He chased him from a local home into a public street and continued his vicious assault in full view of the public.

“I would like to once again, thank the members of public who bravely ran to help Mr Adger, providing him help, care, and comfort in his last moments.

“Both men are dangerous individuals and Lahrar has been sent to prison for many years. The community is a safer place without him.”