UK Drill Rapper DigDat Convicted: Notting Hill Drive-By Shooting Leaves Victim Fighting for Life
By Ben Freeman
A chilling act of gun violence in the heart of Notting Hill has led to the conviction of UK drill rapper Nathan Tokosi, known professionally as DigDat, after a jury at the Old Bailey found him guilty of attempted murder and multiple firearms offences. The 25-year-old, from Grove Street, Lewisham—who had recently been promoted by the BBC as a major talent and the next big star—was convicted of launching a savage and calculated drive-by shooting, leaving his victim with catastrophic injuries.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of November 20, 2023, when Tokosi and his accomplices arrived in Clydesdale Road, Notting Hill, in a stolen vehicle. As their car pulled up alongside another, one of the passengers opened fire. The victim was shot multiple times in the body, mouth, and head, suffering such grave injuries that he required emergency surgery.
After the attack, the getaway car was swiftly abandoned in Allington Road, Queen’s Park. Nearby, officers discovered a black bag containing a handgun and ammunition. A meticulous forensic examination uncovered Tokosi’s DNA inside the vehicle, directly linking him to the scene of the crime.
Detective Constable Hannah Forrest, from the Met’s Specialist Crime South team, described the attack in stark terms:
“This was a savage attack, with the victim requiring emergency surgery after being shot in the body, mouth, and head. The verdict in this case shows that this violent criminality will not be tolerated on London's streets.”
Tokosi, a known figure in the UK drill scene, had been newly released from prison at the time of the shooting, having served a sentence for an unrelated offence. His re-emergence onto the streets, however, was short-lived. On February 16, 2024, his car was stopped by police in Lewisham—a seemingly routine intervention that swiftly turned into his undoing.
Following his arrest, a full search of Tokosi’s address uncovered yet another firearm, along with additional ammunition. With this damning discovery, he was charged with attempted murder, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and two counts of possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life.
Speaking after the verdict, Detective Constable Forrest praised the investigative team, emphasising the overwhelming strength of the forensic case against Tokosi:
“Tokosi is a highly dangerous individual, who had—at the time of the shooting—only just been released from prison after serving time for a separate offence. I would like to pay tribute to the investigation team in this case, who were able to build a compelling forensic case against Tokosi. This proved indispensable at trial.”
With a guilty verdict now secured, Tokosi faces the full force of the law. He remains in custody, awaiting sentencing at the Old Bailey, where a judge will determine the length of his prison term. The case stands as a stark reminder of the relentless impact of gun crime in London and the serious consequences that await those who engage in such violence.
Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all, stay safe, and I’ll see you then.
Bénédict Tarot Freeman
Editor-at-Large
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