Drugs-related Catford shooting leads to conviction for supplier tied up with attempted murder

A 60-year-old man from Hither Green has been found guilty of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and money laundering.

Francis Ajeigbe was arrested by police during a search of his house in Laleham Road as part of an investigation into his connection to a co-defendant who attempted to shoot someone in retaliation for a drugs debt of just £3.50.

Marcus Adepoju, 31, of Claremont Street, Tottenham, was convicted of attempted murder, having already pleaded guilty to multiple firearms and drug offences, following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court which concluded on Friday.

In April last year, officers were called to a house in Nelgarde Road, Catford, where a man reported he had been shot at through a window by a masked man.

The three shots had narrowly missed him but caused superficial wounds from glass shards, as well as extensive damage to the property.

Detectives immediately began an investigation which included extensive CCTV enquiries. This showed the suspect walking to the scene from a house in Laleham Road, Hither Green and returning there soon afterwards.

Officers focused their attention on those coming in and out of the property and shortly afterwards they saw a man – later identified as Marcus Adepoju – travelling from the house to a storage facility in nearby Forest Hill.

A search of the unit recovered two firearms alongside ammunition, drugs, cash and knives. Another storage facility they linked to Adepoju was found to contain more ammunition, cash and drugs.

Adepoju was stopped by officers in a car in Chingford, where he was found to be in possession of a bag which contained keys for the house in Laleham Road as well as the two storage units.

Forensic enquiries carried out on one of the seized guns linked it to the shooting, as well as to another incident in March 2023 in which a bullet hole was found in a lorry in Forest Hill. Adepoju’s DNA was also found on both weapons.

His phone was also analysed and revealed several images of a third firearm.

Adepoju pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of a firearm, money laundering, possession with intent to supply class A drugs and possession of bladed articles at an earlier hearing.

DC John Nightingale, a Trident detective from Specialist Crime, said: “Adepoju is an extremely dangerous individual who had no qualms about shooting a man through a window on a busy residential street.

“It is only through sheer good fortune that the victim was not more seriously injured or killed.

“Adepoju produced music under the stage name ‘Menace To Society’ – sadly his actions reinforced this moniker and he will now pay the price for his crimes.

Both men will be sentenced at the same court on April 12.

Pictured top: Francis Ajeigbe (Picture: The Met)