A MURDERER has been jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 14 years after a “wicked” machete attack on a father-of-two.

Zakaria Lahrar, 20, of Dee Close, Upminster was convicted of the murder of 35-year-old Daniel Adger and sentenced at Basildon Crown Court yesterday.

Daniel Boakye, 30, had already admitted murdering Mr Adger in a joint enterprise killing.

The court heard drug dealer Boakye and drug runner Lahrar drove to Eden Green, South Ockendon, on August 21 to confront Mr Adger who it is claimed had been robbing drug dealers.

The defendants entered Mr Adger’s flat where Boakye drew a machete and launched an attack on Mr Adger who managed to escape into the street. Passersby tried to stop the bleeding but without success.

Judge Lodge told Lahrar: “You played your part by preventing others in the flat from intervening, both by your intimidating presence and by direct physical force.”

Mr Adger suffered a fatal wound to his leg which meant he bled to death in the street in front of horrified onlookers.

Sentencing Lahrar, Judge Lodge said: “Those who are engaged in the crime of dealing illicit drugs operate under a misplaced belief that they can act with impunity, dealing where they will and punishing with violence those whom they believe to have wronged them.

“This court will not hesitate to impose sentences which make it clear this is not the case.”

Judge Lodge told Lahrar he accepted he played the lesser role in the attack and did not use the weapon before noting what he described as “moving” personal mitigation in the form of a reference from his mother who raised Lahrar single-handedly.

Lahrar has a “limited IQ” making him “significantly suggestible”, according to the judge.

He became involved in drug dealing when a knee injury dashed hopes of a career in football and he began taking drugs.

Boakye, 31, of Western Green, Dagenham, is due to be sentenced for murder and conspiring to supply cocaine at a date to be confirmed.

Det Chief Insp Daniel Stoten said “I would like to thank the members of public who bravely ran to help Mr Adger, providing him help, care, and comfort in his last moments. I hope that this outcome offers some comfort to Mr Adger’s family.”