Jaden Moodie: Accused killer 'carried knife for safety'

Jaden Moodie was allegedly dealing drugs for a gang when he was targeted by a group of men

A man accused of murdering a 14-year-old boy sold drugs for a London gang so he could "survive", and would carry a knife for "safety", a court has heard.

Jaden Moodie was knocked off a moped and stabbed to death in Leyton, north-east London, on 8 January.

Ayoub Majdouline, who is accused of being one of five men who carried out the attack, told the Old Bailey he had sold drugs since he was 16 years old.

The 19-year-old, from Wembley, denies murder and possession of a knife.

Jaden had been out drug dealing for the Beaumont gang when he was attacked by alleged members of rival drug gang the "Mali Boys", the court heard.

The teen was hunted down and repeatedly stabbed to death in a 14 second attack.

The jury was shown CCTV of the attack, stills of which Jaden's parents asked to be published

The day before, Mr Majdouline was caught on CCTV at a Travelodge hotel in Walthamstow, with distinctive Nike Air Max trainers he was wearing during the knife attack on Jaden, jurors were told.

Majdouline was also wearing yellow rubber gloves, one of which was later found to have traces of the victim's blood and the defendant's DNA, it is claimed.

Ayoub Majdouline was captured on CCTV in a hotel in Walthamstow, the day before the murder

Jurors heard the defendant had a troubled upbringing in Leyton and his parents had split up when he was seven.

While living with his mother, he was abused by his stepfather so went to live with his aunt, the court was told.

However, that relationship broke down and he ended up in foster care. His father also died in 2015.

Blood-stained rubber gloves allegedly worn by Mr Majdouline were found near the crime scene

The court was told he had been identified as a victim of modern slavery by the National Crime Agency (NCA) over concerns he was being exploited by older youths.

Giving evidence, Mr Majdouline said he sold drugs "for and with" the Mali Boys gang, including as part of county lines dealing in Basingstoke, Ipswich and Andover.

He told jurors he was previously jailed for drug and knife offences but went straight back to dealing "to survive"

"At the time I did not feel like I was being supported by social services and I never lived by myself before," he said.

He added that he got "confused" sorting out jobseekers' allowance when he turned 18 and dealing had been "the only way I knew how to make money".

Explaining why he carried a knife, Mr Majdouline said he had been "sliced" on one occasion in Basingstoke so carried a blade "for my own safety".

The trial continues.

Ayoub Majdouline denies murdering the teenager and possession of a knife