The mum of a Mill Hill teenager stabbed to death in a row over drugs has described his death as a “wound that just does not heal”.

Jesse Nwokejiob, 17, was stabbed to death in Cambridge in November last year in a dispute centring around county lines drug dealing.

His killer – a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons – was jailed for four years on Friday (September 4) after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Jesse’s father, Henry Nwokejiobi, said that he had encouraged his son to move to Cambridge, where his mother lived, after the teenager told him “things were happening” in Mill Hill.

Huntingdon Crown Court was told that on November 19, 2022, the defendant and another boy, now also aged 17, met Jesse in a park in Cambridge.

After an altercation, Jesse and the defendant both pulled out a knife.

Seconds later, Jesse collapsed having been stabbed in the chest. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 17-year-old defendant and his teenage associate were then collected in a car by “drug user” James Heath, 45, of Queens Close in Harston.

Police have said that in the days leading up to the incident, Heath had been housing the two teenagers at his home and driving them to Cambridge every day so they could deal class A drugs.

The two boys, who were both 16 at the time and are now 17, got a train to London, where they lived, the following day.

Jesse’s killer denied murder but admitted an alternative charge of manslaughter.

The other 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and affray.

He was sentenced to an 18-month youth rehabilitation order and must also carry out 120 hours' unpaid work.

Heath pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and two counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Speaking after sentencing, Jesse’s mum, Rita Ofor, said: “Jesse’s death is a wound that just does not heal. I miss him so much. He was a lovely boy and son.

“Jesse touched so many people’s lives in his short 17 years. I would never wish anyone else to go through what I am going through.

“I hope that Jesse’s memory will make others stop and think about their life choices.”

His dad, Henry Nwokejiobi, said: “Jesse was a good boy, was funny and made everyone laugh.

"When he was in a room everyone knew, he had a presence about him and was very confident.

“Jesse was a fast learner and very academic. He had so much promise.

"Jesse was very ambitious, and I believe that he would have made a great contribution to this world.

“I have felt empty since Jesse died and what has happened has affected me terribly. I miss him awfully. The opportunity for him to become something has been lost.”

Some reporting by PA.