In a case that has gripped London’s music scene and shocked the wider public, rapper Nathan Tokosi—better known by his stage name DigDat—has been sentenced to life in prison for a drive-by shooting that left his rival, Daniel Offei-Ntow, severely injured. The sentencing, handed down at the Old Bailey, brings to a close a saga marked by violence, rapid fame, and the tragic intersection of street life with musical success.
The events unfolded in the early hours of November 20, 2023, on Clydesdale Road in Notting Hill, west London. According to multiple reports from the BBC and the Press Association, Tokosi, 26, of Deptford, pulled up alongside Offei-Ntow’s car in a stolen Audi. At least six shots were fired from a rear passenger window, striking the 27-year-old Offei-Ntow—who performed under the name Lugavelz—in the head, mouth, and body. The victim, described by prosecutors as "lucky not to die," managed to escape the blood-soaked vehicle and make his way back to his flat, where police found him "in shock and severely injured," as recounted by prosecutor Kate Bex KC.
Firearms officers who arrived at the scene discovered Offei-Ntow’s Mitsubishi Outlander riddled with bullet holes and covered in blood. A trail of blood led them to the victim’s flat. Police dogs later recovered a latex glove and a black bag containing a firearm and three rounds of ammunition near the abandoned Audi, which had been dumped back in its original parking space after the attack, according to BBC.
The investigation quickly focused on Tokosi. CCTV footage revealed him making several drives around the area in the stolen Audi in the days and hours before the shooting. Further inquiries showed that he had borrowed a BMW to make two separate trips from his father’s home in Deptford to Notting Hill on consecutive nights that weekend. Forensic experts found DNA from both Tokosi and fellow artist Kamal Benjamin (known as Wesson) in the Audi. However, Benjamin’s Instagram posts from Dubai—where he was seen with rappers Lil Durk and 50 Cent—proved he had left the UK days before the shooting, eliminating him as a suspect in the attack.
Tokosi’s conviction was the result of two separate trials at the Old Bailey in 2025. In the first, held in February, he was found guilty of attempted murder, possessing a self-loading pistol and ammunition with intent to endanger life, and possessing a prohibited firearm and ammunition. The second trial, in November, resulted in an additional conviction for possessing a firearm and ammunition on February 4, 2024. Judge Sarah Munro KC, who presided over the sentencing, declared she was "in no doubt" that Tokosi was a dangerous offender. The life sentence carries a minimum term of 24 years before he will be eligible for parole.
Tokosi’s criminal history, stretching back to his childhood, was laid bare in court. He had amassed eight previous convictions for 13 offences, including violent attacks dating back to when he was just 11 years old. These included punching a girl in the face, attacking a boy with punches and knee strikes, and—most seriously—stabbing a victim in the ribcage at age 13, for which he was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to seven years in youth detention plus three years on extended licence. The court also heard that Tokosi was diagnosed with ADHD at age 11 and struggled with his behaviour at school, factors cited by his defense as contributing to his troubled path.
In mitigation, Tokosi’s barrister, Shannon Revel, described him as a “laidback” young man who had been swept up in the whirlwind of his music career and the “fast-paced and chaotic” lifestyle that accompanied sudden success. “He described that his job as a rapper effectively became an existence, rather than something that he could take time off from,” Revel told the court. She argued that “rising to success so quickly” left Tokosi with no real time for reflection or personal growth.
Despite these arguments, the court was unmoved. Judge Munro emphasized the premeditated and reckless nature of the attack, echoing the sentiments of Detective Inspector Chris Shepherd from the Metropolitan Police, who called Tokosi’s actions “premeditated, reckless and malicious.” Shepherd also noted that Tokosi lied at trial, maintaining his innocence despite the weight of evidence against him. “The committed police investigation to bring Tokosi before the courts reflects our no-tolerance approach to gang violence on London’s streets,” Shepherd said, while also crediting the officers and medical staff who treated Offei-Ntow after the shooting.
Helen Shaw, from the Crown Prosecution Service, was unequivocal in her assessment of the case: “This was an utterly mindless attack which very nearly claimed a life. That night, Nathan Tokosi clearly intended to kill his victim by shooting him in the head at a close range, with CCTV revealing Tokosi doing several drives around the area in a stolen Audi in the days and hours before the shooting. The Crown Prosecution Service was determined to ensure Tokosi was prosecuted for the full extent of his offending, and we hope today’s sentence will offer some closure to the victim’s family.”
The courtroom atmosphere was tense and emotional during sentencing. Tokosi, who had family members present, made a phone gesture toward the public gallery as sobbing could be heard while he was taken down. The victim, Offei-Ntow, survived the shooting after undergoing two lifesaving surgeries, but has since passed away—though the court was told that his death was unrelated to the attack and involved no third party.
Tokosi’s rise to fame as DigDat had been meteoric. His single “Air Force” reached number 20 on the UK singles chart in 2018, and he appeared on BBC Radio 1Xtra in January 2020. Yet, the same notoriety that propelled him to stardom appears to have also contributed to his downfall, as he became entangled in the violent world that often shadows the UK’s drill and rap scenes.
This case has reignited debate about the relationship between music, street culture, and violence in London. While some argue that the pressures and dangers of rapid fame can overwhelm young artists, others point to the need for greater accountability and intervention long before such tragedies occur. As the city grapples with the aftermath, the story of Nathan Tokosi stands as a cautionary tale of talent, turmoil, and the devastating consequences of unresolved conflict.
The life sentence handed down to DigDat marks the end of a turbulent chapter, but the questions it raises about violence, opportunity, and responsibility in the world of music and beyond are likely to echo for some time.