A MAN who murdered a 21-year-old trying to protect his younger brother from drug dealers has been jailed for life.

Akeel Shah, 24, was told he must serve a minimum of 15 years behind bars for stabbing Adnan Patel through the heart in July last year.

Mr Patel, his two brothers and two others was surrounded by a gang of men armed with sticks, bricks and knives in Stewart Road, Leyton, after he earlier confronted one of the group for allegedly selling drugs to his younger brother.

A fight broke out and despite being stabbed twice, including once in the heart, Mr Patel managed to drive away.

But he crashed into a parked car in Downsell Road and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three others were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday for committing violent disorder.

Clint D’Mello, 24, of Ashlin Road, Stratford, was jailed for four years.

Moheeb Khalid, 20, of Seventh Avenue, Manor Park, was sentenced to 30 months and Mohsin Akram, 19, of Bradymead, Beckton, was jailed for 28 months.

Investigating officer, Det Chief Insp Mick Foote of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "Young people need to realise the fatal damage that knives cause not just to the victims but also their families, including their own.

"They need to drop their weapons and stop fighting. These convictions act as an unfortunate reminder that if you carry or you are part of a group that carries a knife on the streets and use it the likely outcome is death.

"There is no doubt that you will be arrested and if you are found guilty you will go to prison for a very long time."