A teenager has been jailed for life after admitting to murdering his friend following a trivial dispute over £30.

Yusef Al-Jaaf, of Churchill Gardens, Pimlico , was sentenced to life in prison at the Old Bailey today (August 22) for murdering his friend Basel Aghabra, 19, in Lilestone Street, St John’s Wood on February 3 at around 1.10pm.

Police officers found Basel, of Blandford Street, Marylebone , with six stab wounds to his torso and was treated by paramedics at the scene but nothing could be done to save him.

Al-Jaaf later confessed to police that he was at the address during the murder which happened during a heated argument with Basel over no more than £30. He then pleaded guilty to the murder on Wednesday this week.

Basel lent Al-Jaaf £20 for breakfast but then the murderer demanded a further £10 which sparked the argument.

Yusef Al-Jaaf was jailed for life today

Detective Inspector Jamie Stevenson said: “This was a brutal murder with multiple stab wounds inflicted following what was a trivial dispute over a small amount of money. A heated argument has quickly escalated with tragic consequences. The only consolation to the family is that Al-Jaaf has done the decent thing and pleaded guilty, sparing the family the ordeal of a long and painful court case.”

Al-Jaaf will serve a minimum term of 12-and-a-half years in prison.

A 35-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder was subsequently released without charge.