AN EX-MILLWALL FC footballer from Kenton has been jailed for life for gunning down a young man six years ago in Harlesden's Stonebridge Estate.

On May 23, 2004, police were called to Mordaunt Road at 10.30pm where they found  21-year-old Leon Labastide (top picture) suffering from gunshot wounds.

He was taken to Central Middlesex Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

It was revealed the day before Mr Labastide's murder, a man had been involved in a motorbike accident near to his home. He was taken to hospital where he was treated but during his stay, several men armed with guns burgled his home.

Three girls who were at the address at the time of the burglary jumped from the window of the first floor flat to escape, two of them breaking their legs in the process.

It was believed Mr Labastide's murder and the later murder of Jahmall Moore in January 2005, in Griffin Close, Harlesden, were in retaliation for this burglary.

What followed was a series of tit-for-tat non fatal shootings which were believed to be in revenge for the murder of Mr Labastide. The case was investigated by Operation Trident officers, who deal with black-on-black gun crime.

Gavin Grant (second picture), 26, a footballer who had played for Millwall, Wycombe Wanderers and most recently Bradford City and lived in Shrewsbury Avenue, Kenton, was told he must serve at least 25 years behind bars at the Old Bailey on Monday (July 26).

Damien Williams, 33, of Tower Bridge Road, south east London and Gareth Downie, 25, of Markby Road, Birmingham, were also sentenced to life for the murder.

A jury was unable to reach a verdict during the original trial last year so a re-trial had to be set. All three were found guilty by a majority verdict on Friday (July 23).

Detective Inspector Steve Horsley said: "The murder was the result of a feud between people who were once close friends, the family of Leon have been left devastated by their loss.

"Today's conviction is the result of six years of hard work and determination by Trident officers to get justice for his family and to make it clear to the community that, by working together, we can put a stop to this unacceptable violence."