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GANGSTERS RAPPED

‘Drill’ music machete gang members were invited onto Tim Westwood’s YouTube channel

Police had arrested the five 1011 gang members as they planned a hit armed with weapons last year, with the showdown sparked by a Snapchat video

LONDON gang members who planned a machete revenge attack on a rival gang were today jailed for more than ten years.

The five "drill" 1011 gang members, who had previously rapped about stabbing rivals in the face and even appeared on Tim Westwood's YouTube channel, were slammed over the "violent rivalry" that had spiralled out of control.

 Micah Bedeau, 18, had become involved in a gang rivalry after a Snapchat video of his grandmother being abused by a rival gang was shared
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Micah Bedeau, 18, had become involved in a gang rivalry after a Snapchat video of his grandmother being abused by a rival gang was sharedCredit: Central News

The men were today named and shamed over the planned hit, having been caught red-handed with weapons including machetes and baseball bats in November last year.

They are thought to have been planning an attack on rivals from the 12 Worlds gang from Shepherds Bush.

Micah Bedeau, 19, Yonas Girma, 21, Isaac Marshall, 18, Jordan Bedeau, 17, and Rhys Herbert, 17, were jailed or detained for conspiracy to commit violent disorder, in Notting Hill.

The group has scored 15 million hits on YouTube after releasing drill raps about stabbing and shooting rivals.

 Yonas Girma, 21, was also jailed for conspiracy to commit violent disorder
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Yonas Girma, 21, was also jailed for conspiracy to commit violent disorderCredit: Central News
 Isaac Marshall, 18, was also part of the 1011 gang
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Isaac Marshall, 18, was also part of the 1011 gangCredit: Central News
 The gang had made an appearance on Tim Westwood's YouTube channel
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The gang had made an appearance on Tim Westwood's YouTube channelCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Knives belonging to Micah Bedeau were pictured after the gang was jailed for a total of ten years and nine months
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Knives belonging to Micah Bedeau were pictured after the gang was jailed for a total of ten years and nine monthsCredit: Central News

Drill is a style of urban dance music that can include violent lyrics.

Kingston Crown Court heard that the attack was in revenge to a YouTube video showing Bedeau's grandmother approached by another gang and abused.

In sentencing the gang today, Judge Ann Mulligan branded the gang as as "menacingly violent", with the behaviour filtering into their music.

She said: "Some of these music videos contain graphic violence. On 20 October last year the defendants made an appearance on the Tim Westwood TV channel and were introduced as the 1011 gang.

"These are high profile videos taunting and ridiculing the 12-world gang and referring to actual fights.

"They reference murders, stabbings, drug deals, as well as appalling attitude towards women. The videos incite violence."

Tim Westwood’s YouTube channel slammed for promoting violent drill videos ‘coined in up to £1.9m’
 The group were caught red-handed after a two-year operation
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The group were caught red-handed after a two-year operationCredit: Central News
 Yonas Girma was imprisoned for three years and six months
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Yonas Girma was imprisoned for three years and six monthsCredit: Central News
 The videos showed the gang members, including Micah Bedeau, pictured here, making threats
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The videos showed the gang members, including Micah Bedeau, pictured here, making threatsCredit: Central News

The judge will now consider whether or not to impose Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) prohibiting the gang from making drill music videos in the future this afternoon.

David Malone, prosecuting, said the planned attack would have "undoubtedly" ended in "serious injury and death".

He added: "The defendants have a total lack of remorse."

The court was shown a music video composed by one of the 17-year-olds which showed masked youths jumping around wearing masks and pointing threateningly at the camera.

Melanie Simpson, defending Bedeau, accepted the lyrics were full of violence and threats but insisted the gang were just friendly rappers trying to make a living.

Michael House, defending Herbert, said: 'He engages with the police and is often polite and forthcoming.

"In his videos he is putting on an act. He is putting on the act which his friends and fans want from him.

"A great deal material that appears on the videos is showing off."

Bedeau, of Notting Hill, was jailed for three years and three months in a young offender's institute.

His brother Jordan Bedeau, of Notting Hill, was detained for 12 months.

Girma, of Hanworth was jailed for three years and six months.

Marshall, of Ladbroke Grove, was jailed for two years in a young offender's institute.

Rhys Herbert, from Notting Hill, was detained for 12 months.

Each admitted conspiracy to commit violent disorder and were jailed for 10 years and nine months in total.

A spokesperson for Tim Westwood said: "The artists featured on TimWestwoodTV are rap groups. We do not support or condone gangs.

"The police have never contacted TimWestwoodTV over any video on the channel. We would welcome such a dialogue.”


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