Family, friends and members of the community paid tribute to a 24-year-old man who died of a stab wound in Greenford.

The funeral of Dean Mayley, from Northolt, was held on Wednesday (April 2) at Breakspear Crematorium, Ruislip.

Mr Mayley, who suffered from a neuro-developmental disorder called microcephaly, meaning he had the mental age of nine, was stabbed in Ruislip Road eight weeks ago, on Friday, February 7.

He died at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, later that evening from a single stab wound to the chest.

His sister Emma Mayley, 25, said: “It’s still such a shocking thing that it actually happened. The amount of support we have received from people we do not know has been lovely. Hundreds of people turned up to the funeral and we are really grateful. It was never going to be nice, but it went well and it was how my mum wanted it.”

Ms Mayley added: “This area is getting worse and worse. I’m trying to get my mum to move, but she can’t because it’s where all her memories are.”

The 25-year-old said that her older brother and sister – Sam, 28, and Laura, 26 – have the same learning disability and both have the mental age of a four-year-old. She said her mother cannot grieve for Dean because she has to be strong for her other children.

Dean hugging his seven-year-old nephew, Callum.

Ms Mayley said: “My dad died nine months ago and Dean was sat next to me in the same crematorium, hugging me. Now we are doing the same for him.”

A pair of 17-year-old boys were accused of murdering Mr Mayley, of conspiracy to rob and possession of an offensive weapon on February 16. They will appear at the Old Bailey on May 9 for a case management hearing.

Two further males , aged 17 and 18, handed themselves into a north London police station a day later. They were arrested on suspicion of murder. The 17-year-old has been accused and the 18-year-old has been charged with murder.

No trial date has been set.