Brothers given life sentences for stabbing murder

Levi Kent's sister Victoria Kent spoke warmly of her brother

Two brothers have been given life sentences for murdering a cocaine runner who refused to give them credit.

Levi Kent, 22, was chased and repeatedly stabbed in Gosport, Hampshire, in November 2023.

Aiden West, 25, of Tudor Close, was sentenced to 28 years imprisonment for murder and a concurrent six years for robbery at Portsmouth Crown Court.

His half-brother Tommy West, 18, of Fisgard Road, was jailed for 21 years for murder, plus concurrent sentences of five years for robbery and one year for possessing a knife in a public place.

Tommy West stabbed Mr Kent six times, a post mortem confirmed

Mr Justice Bowes said the pair would only be released at the end of their sentences if a parole board concludes they are not a danger to the public.

The court heard how they had planned to rob Mr Kent after he refused to defer payment for cocaine.

They met him behind shops in Nobes Avenue in the early hours of 24 November.

The judge said Tommy West was armed with a knife, while Aiden West was watching nearby and willing to provide support.

Mr Kent was stabbed in his car by Tommy West and crashed into a wall a short distance away, Mr Justice Bowes said.

The court heard how the victim began to run away but was chased by the pair.

This pursuit was caught on nearby cameras and the judge said Aiden West could be heard searching for the drugs and saying: "Shank him up bruv. Shank him up or what?"

Tommy West reportedly replied: "He already has been bruv."

Mr Bowes said Aiden West was equally guilty of murder despite not stabbing Mr Kent

Mr Kent was pronounced dead in hospital and a post-mortem examination revealed he had sustained six stab wounds, including one fatal wound to the heart, Mr Justice Bowes said.

He added that although Aiden West did not stab Mr Kent he was aware that his brother had a blade and intended to use it, which made them both equally guilty of murder.

In a statement read in the court Mr Kent's sister Victoria Kent said: "Levi was so much more than just a brother to me."

She said her brother helped her to raise her children and he "never failed to put a smile on my face or make me laugh until my stomach hurt".

"There are no words powerful enough to ever begin to explain the pain that the brutal murder of our Levi has caused," she added.

Mr Kent was found seriously injured in Keyes Road

Six other people had been charged over the murder.

Peter West 43, of Wimpson Lane in Southampton, and Michael Figgins, 64, of St Ann’s Crescent in Gosport, collected the offenders in a car after the attack.

They were both found guilty of enabling Peter's son Tommy to dispose of clothes, but were found not guilty of assisting Aiden West.

Sarah Flynn, 36, of James Close in Gosport, admitted putting Tommy West's blood-stained clothing in a communal bin.

The brothers' mother Joanne West, 45, arranged a taxi to take them from the crime scene to the home in Harbour Tower of Liam Savage, 38, and both admitted charges of assisting offenders.

Mark Phillips, 56, of Gilbert Close in Gosport, lied to police about Ms West's taxi booking and later admitted perverting the course of justice.

All are due to be sentenced at a later date.