Teens jailed for killing 17-year-old near bus stop

Thomas Taylor died after being stabbed near a bus station in Bedford

Two men in their late teens have been given custodial sentences after being convicted of unlawfully killing a 17-year-old youth who died after being stabbed.

Bennett Ndenkeh, 19, was told he would spend at least 22 years in custody after being found guilty of murdering Thomas Taylor in Bedford in January.

Riaz Miah, 18, was given an eight-year custodial term after being found guilty of manslaughter.

While he passed sentence at Luton Crown Court on Friday, Mr Justice Martin Spencer said Thomas's dying words had been: "Please call my mum."

Bedfordshire Police said Thomas died after being stabbed in Greenhill Street just before 18:00 GMT on 8 January.

Mr Justice Spencer handed Ndenkeh, of Midland Road, Bedford, a mandatory life sentence for murder and said he must spend a minimum of 22 years in custody before parole could be considered.

The judge said Miah, of Foster Hill Road, Bedford, must spend two-thirds of his eight-year sentence in custody before parole was considered.

Ndenkeh and Miah were convicted after a trial during the summer.

Bennett Ndenkeh was found guilty of murdering Thomas Taylor

Mr Justice Spencer said evidence showed that Thomas died after rival groups had planned a fight.

Violence had broken out in the town centre after a group containing Ndenkeh and Miah found a smaller group made up of Thomas and two associates.

The judge described Ndenkeh, who was armed with a knife which had a 10-inch blade, as the "spearhead" of the larger group .

A lawyer representing Ndenkeh said Thomas and his associates also had knives.

The judge said evidence showed how Thomas, who had a knife in his hand, started to run away after his group was confronted, then stopped.

"Thomas turned to face his attackers," said the judge.

"It was a brave decision - one that cost him his life."

The judge said Ndenkeh had "lunged" at Thomas three times as he "lay defenceless" in an "act of cowardly murder".

He told Ndenkeh: "I have no doubt that you intended to kill him."

The judge said Miah had shown "no hesitation" in "attacking Thomas" with his feet.

But he said Miah had not intended to kill or cause serious harm.

Barrister Mark Heywood KC, who led the prosecution team said the "background" to the attack "almost certainly" related to an incident some days earlier involving Miah, he said.

Evidence suggested that Miah had been assaulted by someone associated with Thomas and the incident had become an "issue".

He said messages had been exchanged between Miah and Thomas prior to the confrontation.

The judge said evidence showed that members of the group Ndenkeh and Miah were part of had been "triumphant" after the attack.

"Thomas Taylor collapsed into the arms of a passer-by," said the judge.

"His last words as he lay dying were 'please call my mum'."

Riaz Miah had been assaulted shortly before Thomas Taylor died, jurors heard

Alexandra Felix KC, who represented Ndenkeh, said there was a planned altercation.

"Thomas Taylor and his associates were, I am afraid, also armed with knives," she said.

"What was intended was a fight between Riaz Miah and another."

She said there was an "epidemic" of young people carrying knives and told the judge: "It is a sad indictment of today that so many young people routinely carry knives."

Miss Felix said Ndenkeh had mental health difficulties and was immature.

She told the judge: "He is sorry for what he has done."

Ndenkeh, who was 18 when Thomas died, had written a letter to the judge, saying: "I am not proud of my actions and, although I cannot tell them personally, I apologise to Thomas's family."

Mozammel Hossain KC, who represented Miah, said his client had written a similar note.

Miah, who was 17 when Thomas died, said he thought about what happened every day and added: "I wish I was able to go back in time."

Ndenkeh also admitted unlawfully carrying a zombie knife in August 2024. The judge imposed a three-custody term for the offence which he said would run concurrently with the life sentence.

Members of Thomas's family contributed personal statements, parts of which were read out at the hearing by Mr Heywood.

"Our world has stopped," Thomas's grandmother Mary Townsend told the judge.

"Our lives are shattered beyond repair."

Mrs Townsend said Thomas was "intelligent, thoughtful" and "full of dreams" for the future.

She said her daughter - Thomas's mother, Samantha Taylor - was "broken" since her son's death.