Drill rapper son of Mark Duggan who was shot dead by police in killing which sparked London riots is jailed for five years after kept gun for his 'protection'
- Kemani Duggan, 23, said he had the weapon to scare off any potential attackers
The drill rapper son of Mark Duggan, whose death sparked riots in London when he was gunned down by police, has been jailed for five years after he kept a pistol for his 'protection.'
Kemani Duggan, 23, who performs under the name Bandokay, confessed to being in possession of 7.62mm Tokarev calibre Zastava Arms model M57 self-loading pistol.
He also admitted to owning 22 rounds of ammunition with intent to cause fear of violence.
He had earlier admitted simple possession of the gun and ammunition without a firearm certificate between 19 February 2023 and 21 March 2023.
The Old Bailey heard Duggan carried the weapon in order to scare off any potential attackers who might try and assault him because of his rapping fame.
Kemani Duggan, 23, who performs under the name Bandokay, confessed to being in possession of 7.62mm Tokarev calibre Zastava Arms model M57 self-loading pistol
Duggan, who performed under the name Bandokay, ose to prominence in the UK music industry in 2019 when he released Frontstreet, which peaked at number 36 in the UK Albums Chart
The Zastava Arms model 57 was the standard service pistol of the Yugoslav People's Army from 1961 until the early 1990s.
Duggan was described in court as a 'high-ranking' member of the Original Farm Boys (OFB) gang in North London.
He rose to prominence in the UK music industry in 2019 when he released Frontstreet, which peaked at number 36 in the UK Albums Chart.
Abdou Bojang, 22, admitted possessing the weapon and ammunition.
Judge Philip Katz KC said: 'You, Duggan possessed the firearm for at least a month.
'You did not intend to use it by firing it, but you did have it in case you needed to defend yourself if necessary.
'You did not intend to endanger life by carrying it but you did intend to cause fear of violence if you needed to.'
Judge Katz spoke of Duggan's 'unfortunate life history' and explained that the risk to his life was why the sentencing was moved from Wood Green Crown Court to the Old Bailey.
He continued: 'Your loyalty to others associated with that gang is clear.
'It is accepted all round that counts three and five carry a minimum term of five years imprisonment.
'Your criminal records will now include information which people will find alarming.'
The gun and ammunition were found in a communal car park beneath a block of flats where Bojang lived in Wenlock Road, Hackney.
Mark Duggan was shot dead by police in Tottenham Hale in 2011 when he was aged 29. He was in a minicab when officers tried to arrest him on suspicion of possession of a handgun
His death sparked riots in London with buildings and vehicles being burnt and clashes with police
They were found alongside two knives.
Prosecutor Tom Parker earlier described Duggan as a 'high-ranking member of the gang' and said Bojang was minding the firearm.
Bojang was not home when police searched his home on 23 March last year.
He had tried to call both his family and neighbour before officers found a yellow plastic bag containing the gun and 22 rounds of live ammunition in the car park.
Bojang had also called Duggan repeatedly during the search, saying the 'feds' were in his block of flats and he might get 'nicked', the court heard.
He also forwarded Duggan a video of police outside his address along with a photo of the search warrant.
Duggan's DNA was later found on top of the handgun and images of the weapon were found on his phone following his arrest at Gatwick Airport on January 13 this year.
Defending Duggan, Gregory Fishwick said: 'He is sometimes looked at as nothing more than his father's son,
'He has tried to get away from that, he has tried to be a proper father to his son.'
A photo of the gun with ammunition was later found on Duggan's Snapchat in a pin protected file named: 'My eyes only.'
Duggan, of Riversdale Road, Islington, and Bojang, of Wenlock Road, Hackney, were both sentenced to five years imprisonment.
He was just 10 years old when his 29-year-old father died in Tottenham, north London, in August 2011, sparking riots across the country.
Mark Duggan was in a minicab when officers tried to arrest him on suspicion of possession of a handgun on 4 August 2011.
He was shot twice by officer V53 and was killed by a bullet which hit him in the chest.
Three years later an inquest jury concluded he had been lawfully killed.